FKOM 


THE  FLAG 

TO 

THE     CEOSS; 

OB, 

SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS 

OF 

CHRISTIANITY 

IN  THE  WAR. 


THE  CONVERSIONS,  PRAYERS,  DYING  REQUESTS,  LAST  WORDS,  SUP- 
FERINGS  AND   DEATHS   OF  OUR  SOLDIERS,  ON  THE  BATTLE- 
FIELD, IN  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  AND   PRISON} 

AND   A    DESCRIPTION   OF 

DISTINGUISHED  CHRISTIAN  MEN  AND  THEIR  LABORS. 


BY    A.  S.  BILLINGSLEY, 

LATE  CHAPLAIN   U.S.   AKMY. 

"Stand  by  Vie,  Flag,  and  cling  to  the  Cross.''— E.  M.  SCHNEIDER,  57th  Mas§.  Vol. 


NEW-WORLD    PUBLISHING    COMPANY, 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA.:  BOSTON,  MASS.:  LANSING,  MICH.: 

B.  T.   ROOT,  BURLINGTON,   IOWA. 

1872. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 

NEW-WORLD  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


TAKE  NOTICE !— The  publishers  of  this  work  assure  the  public  that  they 
deal  with  Booksellers  nor  publish  Trade  SooJcs— being  exclusively  engaged  in  the  subscription  busi- 
ness— and  that  none  of  their  publications  can  honestly  and  legitmatety  go  into  the  stores.    They 
therefore  CAUTION  all  jutt  and  fair-minded  persons  against  buying  "  FROM  THE  FLAG  TO  TE« 
CROSS  "  from  any  others  than  Canvassing  Agents. 


OVEUV 

DEPARTED  SOLDIERS,  SAILORS  AND  OFFICERS  OF  THE 
UNION,  WHO  FOUGHT,  BLED,  AND  DIED  FOR  THEIR 
COUNTRY;  AND  IN  HONOR  OF  THE  SURVIVING 
SOLDIERS,  SAILORS,  AND  OFFICERS  WHO 
FOUGHT  AND  SUFFERED  IN  QUELL- 
ING THE  LATE  REBELLION, 

ook 

IS  GRATEFULLY  INSCRIBED  AND  HEARTILY  DEDICATED 

BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


THE  UBSARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 

963326 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAQB. 
REV.  A.  S.  BILLINGSLEY       ......     Frontispiece. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 15 

FORT  SUMTER  IN  1861          .        .        .        . ' 16 

STREET  IN  CINCINNATI  IN  THE  EARLY  PART  OF  THE  WAR  ...        20 

HARPER'S  FERRY 32 

REV.  JAS.  MARSHALL,  U.  S.  ARMY 42 

PRATT  STREET,  BALTIMORE  ....*.,..     46 

REV.  E.  P.  ROE,  U.  S.  ARMY 59 

HAMPTON  HOSPITAL 92 

HOSPITAL  SCENE       .         .         .         .         .        .         .        .        .         .119 

PITTSBCRG  LANDING 124 

COOPER  VOLUNTEER  REFRESHMENT-SALOON,  PHILADELPHIA       .        .      210 

UNCLE  JACOB 235> 

THE  PRESIDENT'S  RECEPTION  ROOM  DURING  THE  WAR       .         .        .      283 

VIEW  OF  THE  ANTIETAM  BATTLE  GROUND 300 

NATIONAL  CEMETERY,  FORTRESS  MONROE,  VA.  ....      315 

REV.  P.  D.  GURLEY,  D.D .        .        .334 

REV.  MATTHEW  SIMPSON 346 

GEO.  II .  STUART,  ESQ 364 

HENRY  WARD  BEECHER 383 

INDEPENDENCE  SQUARE,  PHILADELPHIA        .  ...  418 


PREFACE. 


FT1HE  late  war  was  one  of  the  greatest  conflicts  that  ever  stained 
-L  the  historic  page.  Involving  the  life  of  the  nation  and  the 
great  question  of  man's  self-government,  its  results  will  very  ma- 
terially affect  the  progress  of  Christianity  and  the  destiny  of  the 
world  for  generations  to  come.  When  we  look  at  the  extent,  the 
duration,  and  the  severity  of  the  mighty  struggle,  the  number 
of  men  engaged,  the  number  of  lives  lost,  and  the  glorious  vic- 
tory achieved,  for  awfulness,  grandeur,  and  glory,  it  excels  all 
modern  warfare. 

And  as  such  a  war  occurs  only  once  in  an  age,  it  is  well  to 
have«jits  history  recorded  as  fully  as  possible.  And  although  it 
has  already  given  rise  to  a  great  many  books,  —  yet,  as  those 
already  issued  relate  more  particularly  to  the  cause,  rise,  and 
progress  of  the  Rebellion,  and  the  great  sacrifice  and  mighty  up- 
rising of  the  North  in  putting  it  down,  together  with  the  military 
genius  and  heroic  achievements  of  great  generals  and  officers,  — 
there  seems  to  be  a  demand  for  another,  giving  a  more  detailed 
account  of  the  sufferings,  piety,  and  heroism  of  the  private  soldier 
and  patient  in  the  hospital.  Thus  far  there  seems  to  be  a  ten- 
dency in  the  historian  to  ascribe  too  much  honor  and  glory  to  the 
officer,  and  too  little  to  the  private  soldier.  There  were,  doubt- 
less, among  the  rank  and  file  of  the  late  Union  army  and  navy 
many  unknown  heroes,  whose  piety,  worth,  and  heroism  deserve 
to  be  written  on  leaves  more  durable  than  brass;  men  whose 
sagacity,  courage,  and  military  genius,  if  fully  developed,  would 
to-day  shine  as  bright  in  the  galaxy  of  military  glory  as  many 
of  those  whose  names  will  go  down  to  posterity  crowned  with 
glory  and  honor.  Now,  to  record  some  of  the  sufferings,  hard- 
ships, prayers,  conversions,  sayings,  and  dying  messages  ol  the 


VI  PREFACE. 

Pati  mt  in  the  Hospital  and  of  the  Captive  in  the  Prison,  and  to 
aid  a  little  in  giving  the  Private  Soldier  the  honor  due  him  in 
the  great  conflict  for  our  national  preservation,  and  to  comfort 
the  soldier's  bereaved  mother,  widowed  wife,  and  orphaned  child, 
is  the  object  of  this  little  book.  Laboring  for  a  long  while  in  the 
United  States  General  Hospital,  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  country  during  the  war,  and  visiting  daily  from 
seven  hundred  to  nine  hundred  patients,  canvassing  the  hearts  of 
the  worst  cases  and  noting  down  their  religious  experience  as 
they  gave  it  in  their  own  words,  the  writer  had  a  fine  opportu- 
nity of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  general  character  and 
moral  condition  of  our  soldiery. 

We  have  written  out  but  a  very  small  proportion  of  the 
number  of  patients  visited  whose  spiritual  diagnosis  we  recorded 
in  our  diary ;  but  in  making  our  selections  we  have  taken  some 
from  all  classes,  so  that  the  reader  can  see  at  a  glance  the  general 
moral  character  of  the  American  soldier.  Thus  furnished  with 
the  materials,  at  the  request  of  friends  the  author  now  sends 
forth  to  the  world  this  little  volume,  with  the  hope  that  it  may 
be  a  source  of  comfort  to  the  soldier's  bereaved  friend,  praying 
that  it  may  lead  some  wandering  soul,  who  has  so  long  borne  his 
country's  flag,  to  take  up  and  bear  the  Cross  of  Christ. 
NEW  BRIGHTON,  PA. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

MM 

Tour  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  — The  Devil  Outflanked  —  "The  Bigges* 
Gun  ever  Fired  in  America"  —  Plucking  Flowers  and  Making  Snow- 
balls at  the  Same  Time  —  Gathering  up  the  Lost  Sheep — Preaching  to 
Colorado  Volunteers  —  Late  Papers  "go  off  like  Hot  Cakes"  —  The 
Mighty  Struggle  waxes  Hotter  —  Going  to  the  Army  —  Visiting  and 
Bidding  Good-bye  to  Friends  —  Touching  at  Pittsburg  and  Baltimore, 
We  enjoyed  a  very  Pleasant  Foretaste  of  Army  and  Hospital  Life  at 
Washington,  Fortress  Monroe,  and  Newbern  —  Another  Sail  brought 
us  to  Plymouth  ........  17 

CHAPTER  I. 

ENTERING  THE  SERVICE. 

Arrival  at  Plymouth  —  Found  our  Regiment,  the  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  comfort- 
ably Housed  —  The  Garrison  Hungry  for  the  Gospel  —  Christmas  Ser- 
mon—  Big  Turn-out — The  Rebels  Captured  and  Drove  us  off  .  .  21 

CHAPTER  II. 

SKETCHES  OF  SOLDIERS  AND  OFFICERS. 

A  Fort-Fisher  Hero  —  A  Heroic  Soldier:  "  I  Don't  Backslide  "  —  "Jesus 
is  All  I  Want"  —  "Stand  by  the  Flag,  and  Cling  to  the  Cross"  —  "All  is 
Well!"  —  A  Soldier's  Farewell  —  Capt.  Tresouthick  —  Lieut.  Ransom: 
His  Dying  Prayer  and  "Glory  to  God"  —  Capt.  Fee:  His  Request, 
"Please  Pray  for  Me"  —  A  Rolling  Chaplain  —  "You  Saved  My  Life" 

—  A  Dying  Soldier's  Letter — Lieut.  Merrill :  Baptized  at  Midnight  — 
The  Dying  Captain:  " Hurrah  for  Jesus."     By  Chaplain  Marshall.        .     22 

CHAPTER  III. 

SKETCHES  OF  SOLDIERS. 

"When  I  go  into  Battle,  I  put  Jesus  in  Front"  —  A  Hero  of  Plymouth: 
"I  will  Fall  right  into  His  Arms"  —  "Jesus  is  Precious  to  Me  Now" 

—  "Why  did  You  Call  Me  back  ?  "  —  "  1  don't  Fear  Nothin'  at  all "  — 

Yii 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

PAOB 

"  The  World  is  Hollow  and  Empty  "  —  "I  came  out  to  Conquer  or  Die  " — 
"  They  left  Me  for  Dead  "—  "  Good-bye,  Old  Arm !  "—  "  Put  the  Bright 
Side  out  to  Mother,"  he  said,  as  he  died—  "  Oh,  if  I  only  could  !  "  — 
"I  am  Happy,  Day  and  Night"  —  Value  of  the  Union:  "Pray,  Labor, 
Fight  for  it."  ........  46 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  FALL  OF   PLYMOUTH. 

The  Rebels  Attack  Us,  April  17,  1864— The  Garrison  numbered  about 
Nineteen  Hundred  Men  fit  for  Duty  —  Excitement  Great  —  Alarmed 
Women  fled  to  Me,  crying,  "Come  and  Pray  for  Me!"  "Come  in  and 
Pray  for  Us!"  —  The  Army  and  Navy  both  Engage  at  once — The 
Scene  was  Grand,  Awful,  Sublime  —  Rebel  Iron-clad  attacks  our  Gun- 
boats—  Fight  Severe  —  Lieut.  Flusser  Killed  —  The  Garrison  Overawed 
by  the  Rebel  Ram  — "The  Combat  Deepens"—  "In  the  Last  Ditch"  — 
Hard  Fighting — The  Capture  —  Gen.  Wessels  Surrenders  —  Massacre 
at  Plymouth  —  Visiting  the  Wounded  —  Preached  in  a  Rebel  Hospital  — 
Prayed  for  a  Rebel  Soldier.  .  .  .  .  .  .63 

CHAPTER  V. 

GOING    TO    LIBBY. 

Order:  "Be  Ready  to  Start  for  Richmond  To-morrow  Morning  at  Four" 
—  Sail  up  the  Roanoke  to  Halifax  —  Take  Cars  —  Enter  Libby  with  Loud 
Shouts  of  "Fresh  Fish!  Fresh  Fish  !"  —They  took  our  Money  —  Life 
in  Libby  — All  Sorts  of  Things  going  on— Very  Hard  Place— Preach 
to  the  Prisoners  —  Big  Congregation  —  Visited  the  Hospital  —  Not 
Allowed  to  Preach  to  the  Sick  — Released  — Farewell  to  Libby  — The 
Exchange  —  We  Cheered  the  Dear  Old  Flag  — Rebels  Handle  our  Men 
very  Roughly  —  Belle  Isle  —  U.  S.  General  Hospital,  Annapolis,  Md.  — 
Labors  in,  etc.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .71 

CHAPTER  VI. 

TJ.  S.  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,   FORTRESS  MONROE,  VA. 

Location  Fine  —  Buildings  Splendid  —  Chesapeake  Hospital  —  Bethesdian 
Chapel  —  Interesting  Meetings  —  Reading-Room  and  Library  for  Pa- 
tients—  Hampton  Hospital,  Organized  1862  —  Head-Quarters  —  "New 
Camp"  —  Contraband  Hospital  —  All  Consolidated  into  One  General 
Hospital  in  1864  — Called  by  the  Above  Name  —  Disbanded  in  March, 
1866  — Managed  by  Dr.  Eli  McClellan,  Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  A. — 
Hospital  Garden  —  Very  Extensive  —  Twenty-five  Thousand  Head  of 
Cabbage  —  Hospital  Hennery  —  Camp  Distribution  —  Soldiers  came 
and  went  by  Thousands  —  Chaplain  Marshall  Preached  to  Them  by 
Night  —  Military  Prison  —  Preaching  to  the  Spirits  in  Prison  —  Gan- 


CONTENTS.  IX 

Fi.01 

grcne  Camp  —  Interesting  Scenes  —  "None  but  Christ"  —  Arrival  of 
Patients:  from  Two  Hundred  to  Eight  Hundred  a  Day  —  Transferring 
Patients  —  Voyage  to  New  York  with  a  Load  of  Patients  —  Big  Job 
for  the  Chaplain  —  A  Patient  Kissed  my  Hand  —  A  Weeping  Mother 
and  Hard-hearted  Surgeon —  "  All  Fast  on  the  Potomac."  .  .  79 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  BELIQIOTJS  WORK  AT  HAMPTON  HOSPITAL. 

The  Harvest,  Great  and  White  —  The  Prayer-Hall — No  Church  —  Sol- 
diers' Earnest  Prayers  and  Eloquent  Exhortations  —  It  was  the  Elo- 
quence of  the  Heart  Melting  All  into  Tears  —  Ward  Prayer-Meetings  — 
Interest  Increasing  —  The  Power  of  Prayer  —  Soldiers'  Prayer-Meeting 
—  Bush  Prayer-Meetings  —  Preaching  to  Men  on  their  Death-Beds — 
"  The  Last  Morning."  .  .  .  .  .  .  .93 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

WRITING  LETTERS  FOR  THE  PATIENTS. 

A  Dying  Soldier's  Letter  to  his  Brother  —  Solemn  —  His  Will  —  "Yours 
in  Death  "  —  " Letters  of  Death "  —  "I  am  Ready  "  —  Letters  from  the 
Bereaved  :  No.  1.  The  Bereaved  Wife  —  No.  2.  The  Bereaved  Brother  — 
No.  3.  The  Weeping  Widow  —  No.  4.  The  Dying  Husband's  Letter  to 
His  Wife — No.  5.  A  Weeping  Southern  Family  —  Canvassing  Patients' 
Hearts — Diagnosis  of  the  Whole  Hospital— "Oh,  Chaplain,  Stay,  and 
Talk  to  Me  more  about  Jesus!"  —  "Before  I  would  cry,  'Fort  Pillow, 
and  Let  'em  have  it ! '"  —  " Save  Me,  Lord !  Save  Me,  Lord ! "  .  .  107 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  WOMEN  OF  THE  HOSPITAL. 

Their  Valuable  Services  highly  Appreciated  by  the  Patients  —  Chesapeake 
Hospital  well  Supplied  —  Here  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Dully  was  Directress  and 
Head  of  Sanitary  Department  —  "She  did  what  she  Could" — Miss 
Amos,  of  Baltimore,  Kind,  Faithful,  and  True  —  Mrs.  Chaplain  E.  P. 
Roe — "She  went  about  Doing  Good"  —  Mrs.  Meecham  and  Many 
Others  did  Likewise  —  Mrs.  Carver,  with  her  Tent,  Cooking-Stove,  and 
Provisions,  did  much  for  the  Patients  — Mrs.  Mary  Alexander — Plain, 
Earnest,  Heroic,  Loved  the  Soldiers  Ardently  —  "Bury  Me  with  Them 
when  I  Die."  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .118 

CHAPTER  X. 

SKETCHES  OF  SOLDIERS. 

"Past  Feeling" — Patchwork  won't  do  for  Eternity  —  "Jesus  Saved  Me 
Twice"  —  " I  Never  Forget  My  Saviour"  —  The  Blind  Exhorter —  "I 
have  very  Sweet  Communion  with  God"  —  His  Death  —  Letter  from 


X  CONTENTS. 

PAOS 

His  Wife  — Corporal  John  Creed,  23d  111.,  Co.  B — Honored  for  His 
Bravery  —  Soldiers  Die  Clinched — Courage  of  Pompey — Joy  an  Ele- 
ment of  Strength  —  Ananias  Montgomery  —  "He  had  a  Ball  in  His 
Side,  and  God  in  His  Heart"  — "I  Feel  Happy"  —  The  Backslider  — 
"I  Lost  My  Religion"  —  "Now  I  am  Miserable"  —  George  H.  Vanloan 

—  "I  do  Love  Him"  —  "It  would  be  Hard  to  Live  in  the  Army  without 
Religion  "  —  The  Fixed  Heart  —  "  I  Pray  Often  "  —  "  I  do  Feel  Happy  " 

—  "lam  Too  Wicked  for  That  "  —  "I  Swear  a  Great  Deal"  — "I  Can't 
Pray "  —  " It 's  Too  Late "  —  "I  am  a  Great  Sinner "  —  "I  Have  Given 
Up  "  —  "  It  is  Better  to  Die  "  —  "  I  am  Willing  to  Go  "  —  "  All  is  Well " 

—  Midnight  Calls  —  "  0  Chaplain,  I  Feel  Most  Awful!  "  .  .  124 

CHAPTER  XI. 

SCENES  IN  ANDERSONVILLE. 

The  Prison  — Its  Condition  —  Cruel  Treatment  —  "  Can  this  be  Hell?"  — 
Prisoners'  Awful  Condition  —  Mortality  One  Hundred  and  Fifty  a  Day 

—  Apathy   of  U.    S.  Government   toward   Them  —  Hundreds   Died   of 
Broken    Hearts  —  Many   went    Deranged,    and    turned    Maniacs — A 
School  and  Church  there  Now  —  "  The  Dead-Line  "  —  Execution  of  Union 
Prisoners  —  Band  of  Robbers  and  Murderers  —  Six  Tried,  and  Con- 
demned to  be  Hung  —  Awful  Tragic  Scene  —  They  Expected  to  the  Last 
to  Escape — The  Crisis  of  Andersonville  —  Murder  will  Out  —  Patriotism 
in  Andersonville  —  "  I  would  rather  have  Died  a  Dozen  Deaths" — "I 
am  not  Sorry  that  I  Enlisted"  —  Your  Patriotism  never  Dies:   "It  is 
Stronger   than   Death"  —  Died   Praying   for   Victory  —  Andersonville 
Hospital:  an   Awful   Place — No  Beds  but  Bare  Ground  —  Rations  — 
Diet  —  Enlarged  —  The  Food  would  Produce  Disease  among  Swine  — 
The  Moonlight  Prayer-Meeting  —  Religion  Sweetens  the  Bitterest  Cup.  161 

CHAPTER  XII. 

THE     EXCHANGE. 

Long  Looked  for  —  Many  Exchanging  Time  for  Eternity — They  Cheer 
the  Old  Flag  — "It  never  Seemed  so  Dear"  —  They  Wept  Profusely  — 
Rejoicing  — Sung  the  "Battle -Cry  of  Freedom"  —  What  a  Happy, 
Grateful  Crowd  —  Furloughed  Home  Thirty  Days  —  The  Departure  — 
"Be  Ready  to  Depart"  — Filled  with  Rejoicing  —  They  Cried  "Thank 
God !  Thank  God !  "  —  "  The  Year  of  Jubilee  is  Come  "  —  Loud  Shouts 
of  Joy  burst  from  Thousands  —  Farewell,  Andersonville  —  Sad  Disap- 
pointment—  It  was  no  Exchange  :  Only  a  Removal  —  "Hope  Deferred 
maketh  the  Heart  Sick."  ...  ...  164 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

ANDERSONVILLE  CEMETERY. 

Contains  Fifty  Acres  —  Thirteen  Thousand  and  Seven  Hundred  and  Five 
Graves  — Who  are  the  Dead?  — What  did  They  Suffer?  — How  did 


CONTENTS.  XI 

FAOX 

They  Die  ?  —  As  They  Lived  and  Fought  —  The  First  Prisoners  Buried 
There  —  The  Last  One  —  The  Stars  and  Stripes  Wave  over  Them  — 
Captain  Wirz  — His  Birth  —  Entering  the  Rebel  Army  —  Promoted  for 
His  Cruelties  to  the  Prisoners  —  Proven  Guilty  of  Conspiracy  against 
the  United  States  —  "  I  will  give  you  Bullets  for  Bread"  —  He  Shot  a 
Prisoner  —  "  Oh,  do  Let  Me  Down  !  " —  His  Last  Days  —  Found  Guilty  — 
Received  Sentence  to  be  Hung  very  Coolly  —  Attended  by  the  Priest  — 
No  Signs  of  Sorrow  —  His  Execution  —  Hurries  to  the  Gallows  —  The 
Closing  Scene  ........  169 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

SKETCHES  OF  SOLDIERS. 

"  My  Heart  is  so  Hard,  I  Can't  Pray  "  —  Converted  on  the  Field  of  Battle  — 
" I  Went  to  Church  Cursing,  and  Came  away  Praying "  —  "I  Can't  Get 
Religion"  —  "I  Can't  Help  but  Pray"  —  A  Hero  of  Andersonville 
Saved  by  His  Wife  —  A  Boat-Load  of  Andersonville  Prisoners  —  "Con- 
verted on  Picket  by  Two  Men  Talking  to  Me" — "I  am  Resolved  to 
Quit  Swearing"  —  Died  Calling  to  the  Chaplain  to  Pray  for  Him  —  "I 
am  Ready  to  Die  "  —  "  Tell  Them  I  am  Happy  "  —  "  Converted  through 
a  Sister's  Letters  "  —  "If  I  go  to  Hell,  I  will  go  Praying "  —  " Prayer 
is  a  Great  Privilege  "  —  "  Oh,  that  I  had  Ventured  Before  !  "  —  "I  am 
Guilty  of  Everything  but  Theft  and  Murder"  —  "I  Expect  to  get  Re- 
ligion when  I  get  Home"  —  Bleeding  to  Death,  yet"  Resting,  on 
Christ" — "Praying  for  Sport"  —  "I  Gave  My  Heart  to  Jesus''  — 
"Christ  is  Everything  to  Me"  —  "My  Sins  are  Great  and  Heavy"  — 
"Satan  is  Often  at  My  Heels" — James  Ward,  81st  N.  Y.,  Co.  1  —  A 
Soldier's  Creed  —  "I  See  so  much  Bad  Christianity,  I  am  Discouraged  " 
—  "Jesus  is  Still  Precious"  —  "I  Still  Hold  on  to  God"  — "I  Pray 
much  in  Battle"  —  A  Soldier  with  Seven  Wounds — "lean  Afford  tf 
Suffer"  —  A  Happy,  Shouting  Soldier  — "I  would  Like  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian, if  1  Could  Keep  It  "  —  "I  Can't  Live  without  Prayer"  —  "  Thi 
Lord  is  Mine  "  —  "I  Can't  Pray  "  —  "I  Found  Jesus  "  —  "I  Leave  it  al) 
with  the  Lord"  —  A  Swearer  Brought  to  Tears.  .  .  .  '78 

CHAPTER  XV. 

SKETCHES  OF  SOLDIERS  —  CONTINUED. 

The  Bomb-Proof  Prnyer-Meeting —  "Are  You  Ready  to  Go?"  —  Little 
Lizzie's  Letter  —  "  I  Prayed  in  the  Street" — "  I  Love  Everybody"  — 
"I  Have  no  Fear"  —  Sergeant  James  Tustison:  "I  am  Dying,  But  I 
am  very  Happy  "  —  "I  have  Got  It!"  —  Satan  Repulsed  by  Prayer  — 
"  Hell  Seems  to  be  Gaping  for  Me  "  —  "I  am  Happy  in  the  Lord  "  — 
"  Converted  in  the  Army  through  Sin  "  —  "  Do  You  Trust  in  the  Lord  ?  "  — 
"Urge  Him  to  Come  to  Jesus"  —  "  Thank  God  for  My  Wound"  —  Ser- 
geant Dwight  Kneeland:  "My  Work  is  Done  "— Died  Calling  for  the 
Chaplain  —  "Just  as  God  Wishes  "  —  "  Tell  My  Mother  I  Died  Happy  "  — 
"It  is  Easier  to  Serve  Satan"  —  "I  am  Better  in  the  Army  than  at 
Home"  — William  J.  Johnson,  142d  N.  Y.,  Co.  D  — "All  is  Well"  — 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

MM 

"  Old  Jacob,"  the  Grave-Digger—  "  The  Bible  Better  than  Greenbacks  " 
— "Somehow  It  Worked  upon  Me"  — "God  Still  Sticks  to  Me"  —  "O 
Chaplain,  What  Will  I  Do?"  — "I  am  on  the  Devil's  Side"  — "Pray 
for  Me,  Chaplain,  till  I  Die:  "  His  Bereaved  Wife's  Letter — "I  would 
as  soon  Go  to  My  Heavenly  Home  "  —  "I  am  Too  Wicked  to  Come  to 
Jesus"  —  " God  Grabbed  Me  into  His  Heart  at  Once "  —  "I  Prayed  on, 
and  God  Changed  My  Heart "  —  "  The  Devil  Coaxed  Me  Off."  .  .  210 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  AUTHOR'S  DIARY. 

Preaching  in  the  Wards  —  A  Melting  Prayer-Meeting  —  Hospital  Church 
Organized  —  Church  Creed  —  A  Weeping'  Scene  at  the  Grave  —  The 
Naked  Heart  —  Mortality  Increasing  —  "Try  Again"  —  A  Soldier's 
Prayer-Meeting  —  Catholics  Turning  Protestants  —  Christmas  Dinner 

—  Holidays  in  U.  S.  Hospital  —  Week  of  Prayer  — The  Lord's  Supper 

—  Revival  in  Hospital.        .  .  .  .  .  .  .256 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

MISCELLANEOUS  FACTS. 

Celebration  of  Washington's  Birthday — Religious  Interest  in  New  Camp  — 
Soldiers'  Entertainment  —  The  Fall  of  Richmond  —  Unbounded  Rejoic- 
ing—  Lee's  Surrender  —  Death  of  President  Lincoln  —  Largest  Inter- 
ment— .Dedication  of  New  Hospital  Chapel  —  Arrival  of  Fort  Fisher 
Wounded 279 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  FISHER. 

The  Wounded  Arrive  at  the  Hospital  —  They  are  very  Jubilant  —  Admiral 
Porter  Commands  the  Fleet —  "  The  World  never  Saw  such  Fighting  " 

—  The  Scene  Awfully  Grand  and  Sublime  —  Great  Slaughter  of  Sailora 

—  Awful  Hand-to-Hand  Fight  for  Hours  — The  Surrender  —  Buoyant 
Wounded  from  Richmond  —  Dying  that  the  Nation  might  Live  —  Hos- 
pital Variety  Monotonous —  Desire  to  go  Home.  .  .  .288 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

LINCOLN'S  FUNERAL. 

Lincoln's  Funeral — Deep  Feeling:  Solemn,  Impressive  —  The  Author's 
Address  at  the  Funeral  —  Sudden  Change  from  Rejoicing  to  Weeping  — 
His  Death  a  Loss  to  the  Entire  World  — National  Grief  Unspeakable  — 
His  Character  —  The  Great  Emancipator  and  Friend  of  the  Slave  — 
Self  -  Made  —  The  Saviour  of  His  Country —  Religious  Character: 
Brought  up  to  Pray,  and  Read  the  Bible  — His  Last  Request:  "Pray 
for  Me  "  —  "I  Leave  Myself,  my  Country,  and  All  in  the  Hands  of  God."  294 

CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  STREAM  OF  DEATH. 

The  First  Soldiers  Killed  in  the  War  — Rebel  Cruelty  to  the  Dead  — 


CONTEXTS.  xiii 

MM 

Death  of  Col.  Baker  —  Gen.  Lyon's  Bravery  and  Death  —  Death  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley  and  on  the  Peninsula  —  Removal  of  Gen.  McClellan 

—  Gen.  Ilosecrans'  Bravery  at  Stone  River  —  "The  Bloodiest  Battle  of 
the  War  "  —  The  Battle  of  Gettysburg  the  Death-blow  of  the  Rebellion 

—  Gen.  Grant  Assumes  Command   in  Chief — "On  to  Richmond"  — 
Death   of    Gen.    Sedgwick  —  Battle    of   Coal    Harbor  —  Simultaneous 
Movement   of  Armies  —  Gen.  Sherman   at  Atlanta  —  Gen.  Sheridan's 
Victories  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  —  Battle  at  Franklin,  Tenn.  —  Gen. 
Sheridan's  Stratagem  at  Cedar  Creek  —  Lincoln  Calls  for  More  Volun- 
teers—  Gen.  Sherman  Completes  His  "  March  to  the  Sea"  —  Slavery 
Abolished  by  Congress,  Jan.  31,  1865  — Grant's  Last  "Great  Strike" 

—  Fall  of  Richmond,  Flight  of  Jeff.  Davis,  and  Surrender  of  Gen.  Lee 

—  Mortality  During  the  War  —  The  Deserter.      ....  300 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  NATIONAL  CEMETERY  AT  FORTRESS  MONROE,  VA. 
Number  of  Graves  —  The  Place  of  Many  Prayers,  Sighs,  and  Tears  —  The 
Old  Man  Weeping  at  his  Son's  Grave  —  Who  are  the  Dead  ?  —  How  did 
They  Die  ?  —  Soldiers'  Dying  Words  —  The  Monument  —  The  Inscrip- 
tion—  Burying  the  Dead  —  National  Cemeteries  —  General  Summary.  315 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

SKETCHES  BY  CHAPLAIN  MARSHALL  — THE  U.S.  CHRISTIAN 

COMMISSION. 

A  Theatre  turned  into  a  Religious  Meeting  —  Masses  of  Soldiers  in  Camp 
Distribution  —  Their  Profanity  —  Burlesque  Military  Drill  —  The  Chap- 
lain's Resolution  —  A  Shout  upon  his  Entrance  —  Theatrical  Prepara- 
tions—  They  Black  Themselves  up  —  They  Sing  —  Devotion  Rises  — 
God  Helps  —  The  Chaplain  Reads,  Speaks,  Prays  —  They  Sing  with 
Great  Power  —  They  Visit  the  Reading-Room  —  Great  Good  done  in  a 
Short  Time  —  "  No  more  Swearing  "  —  Sunday  Night  with  the  Dying  — 
The  Dying  Sergeant  sends  for  the  Chaplain  —  The  Weeping  Father 
prays  for  his  Dying  Son  —  The  Dying  Lieutenant  desires  to  be  Prayed 
for  — The  Dying  Captain's  Warm  Grasp  — The  Friendship  of  Christ  — 
The  U.  S.  Christian  Commission  —  Its  Origin  —  Officers — First  Meeting 

—  Its   Spirit  and  Zeal  —  Head-Quarters  — Its  Object  —  Fidelity  of  its 
Delegates  —  Its  Efficiency  and  Contributions  —  Its  Popularity.  .  326 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

DISTINGUISHED  CHRISTIAN  MEN  IN  THE  WAR. 
KEV.  P.  D.  GURLEY,  D.D. 

His  Birth  —  Pious  Mother  —  Babyhood  —  Desire  for  the  Ministry  —  His 
Education  —  Works  his  own  Way  through  Union  College  —  His  Piety 
when  a  Boy  —  Studied  Theology  at  Princeton  —  His  Standing  in  his 
Class  —  Graduates  at  Princeton,  and  Receives  a  Call  to  Preach  in  In- 
dianapolis—  His  Marriage  —  His  Ordination  —  Successful  Labors  — 


Xiv  CONTENTS. 

VMM 

Accepts  a  Call  to  Dayton,  Ohio  —  Leaves  Dayton,  and  goes  to  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.  —  Summoned  to  Lincoln's  Death-Bed  —  Impressive  Scene  — 
Prays  at  his  Death  — Presides  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Clergy  of  the  District 
of  Columbia — Preaches  at  Lincoln's  Funeral — Dr.  Hall  reads  the 
Episcopal  Burial-Service  —  Bishop  Simpson's  Opening  Prayer  —  "  Cling 
to  Liberty  and  Right" — Composed  a  Hymn  for  the  Funeral  —  Bishop 
Simpson's  Sermon  at  the  Grave  —  Dr.  Gurley's  Christian  Character  — 
His  Ability  in  Prayer  —  Successful  as  a  Minister  —  His  Gifts  —  He  Com- 
forts the  Afflicted  —  His  Popularity  —  His  Death  —  His  Rapturous 
Foretastes  of  Heaven  —  His  Dying  Requests  to  his  Family  and  Friends 

—  Last  Words  —  Dr.  Sunderland's  Remarks  at  the  Funeral  —  His  Peo- 
ple's Affection  for  him.        .......  334 

OLIVER  O.  HOWARD. 

His  Birth — Boyhood — Early  Religious  Training — A  Christian  Gentle- 
man—  He  Graduates  at  Bowdoin  College;  also  at  West  Point  Academy 
in  1854  —  His   Patriotism  —  Appointed   Colonel    of    Third    Regiment 
Maine    Volunteers  —  Is   Promoted   for   Bravery  —  Joins   Army  of  the 
Potomac  —  Wounded   at   Battle  of  Fair  Oaks  —  Had  his  Arm   Ampu- 
tated—  Returns  Home  the  Next  Day  —  Lectures  the  People,  and  Urges 
Them  to  Come  to  the  Rescue  of  the  Country  —  He  Returned  in  Time  for 
the  Battles  of  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  and  Chancellors- 
ville — His  Position  at   the   Battle  of  Gettysburg  —  His   Calmness   in 
Battle — Is  Temperate  —  Gen.  Sherman's  High  Opinion  of  him  —  His 
Warm  Attachment  for  Capt.  Griffin  —  He  Prays  with  him,  and  Bids  him 
a  Final  Farewell  —  "It  is  the  Last  Time  " — Appointed  Commissioner 
of  the  Freedman's  Bureau  —  Howard  University  a  Monument  of  His 
Benevolent  Efforts.  .......  343 

BISHOP  SIMPSON. 

His  Nativity  — His  Education —Enters  the  Ministry  —  His  Popularity  — 
Elected  President  of  Asbury  University  —  Elected  Editor  of  "Western 
Christian  Advocate"  —  His  Success  —  Elected  Bishop  —  His  Success 
and  Administration  —  His  Patriotism  and  Zeal  in  Quelling  the  Rebel- 
lion—  Lincoln's  Trusted  Friend  —  His  Prayer  at  Lincoln's  Funeral  — 
His  Preaching  Abilities  —  His  Oration  at  Lincoln's  Grave  —  Powers  of 
Discrimination  —  Delineates  Lincoln's  Characteristics,  and  Points  out 
the  Secret  of  his  Power  —  His  Style  of  Preaching  —  He  Preaches  Christ 

—  What   he  Covets  —  His  Tour   to   the   Rocky    Mountains  —  Intimate 
with   the  Presidents  of  the  United    States  —  Appointed  by  President 
Grant   to  Visit  San  Domingo  —  His  Present  Standing,  Influence,  and 
Power  —  His  Touching  Peroration  at  Lincoln's  Tomb       .  .  .346 

ADMIRAL  FARRAGUT. 

A  Now  Era  in  Naval  Affairs  —  Fight  between  the  Monitor  and  Merrimac  — 
Progress  in  Destroying  and  Saving  Man  —  Satan's  Whetting  his  Sword 
should  Arouse  the  Church — Farragut's  Birth  —  Enters  the  U.  S.  Navy 

—  His  First  and  Second  Engagements  —  Heroic  Courage  —  Wounded  — 
Highly  Esteemed  by  his  Commander  —  His  Heroism  Sleeps — Sails  all 


CONTENTS.  XV 

MM 

over  the  World  —  Promoted  —  His  Loyalty — Went  North  —  Commands 
a  Naval  Expedition  vs.  New  Orleans  —  His  Large  Fleet  —  Captures  New 
Orleans  —  Daring  Feats  in  Capturing  VicJksburg —  His  Stratagem  and 
Heroism  in  Capturing  Mobile  — Lashed  Himself  to  the  Rigging  of  his 
Ship  in  Battle  —  Calls  upon  God  for  Help  and  Direction — Severe  Fight 
with   a   Rebel    Ironclad  —  He  Whipped  Her  —  She  Surrenders  —  Pro- 
moted Again  —  His  Habits  —  Decorating  his  Grave  —  His  Prayer  in  the 
Battle  of  Mobile  Bay  —  "Go  Forward"  —  His  Religious  Life  —  Testi- 
mony of  Lieut.  Montgomery.  ......  353 

GEORGE  H.  STUAET. 

Sketch  of,  by  Dr.  Wylie  —  His  Birth  —  Parents  — Education  — Arrival  in 
this    Country  —  Religious    Profession — Elected    Ruling    Elder — His 
Christian  Zealand  Liberality  —  Missionary  Spirit  —  A  Sabbath-school 
Worker  —  Suggested  the  National  Presbyterian  Convention,  and  Pre- 
sided over  it — His  Suspension  from  the  Church  —  Refused  a  Position 
in  President  Grant's  Cabinet — A  Successful  Merchant  —  His  Natural 
Talents  —  Christian   Character — An   Expert   Presiding   Officer  —  His 
Natural  Eloquence  —  Attractive  Speaker  and  Successful  Beggar  —  He 
Always  Succeeds  —  Goes  about  Doing  Good  —  His  Marriage  —  Family 
—  Personal  Appearance  —  His  Labors  in  the  Christian  Commission  — 
Its  Leading  Spirit  and  President  —  His  Qualification  and  Devotion  to 
the  Work  —  Secret  of  His  Success  —  Distributes  Books  —  Overcomes  an 
Infidel —  The  People's  Faith  in  Him  —  Money  Flows  in  at  his  Asking  — 
His  Importunity  Prevails  —  His  Zeal  to  Supply  the  Needy  Soldiers  — 
His  Kindness  to  the  Rebels  —  Rebels  Weep  at  Northern  Kindness  —  His 
Fondness  for  Army  Relics  —  "His  Generalship  in  Prayer"  —  He  can 
always  have  Prayer — "An  Eminent  Christian  at  Work"  —  His  Chris- 
tian Sngaciry  —  His  Popularity  —  An  Eloquent  Speaker  —  His  Speech 
in  England.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .364 

HENRY  WARD  BEECHER. 

His  Distinguishing  Traits  — A  Great  Worker  —  His  Style  —  Oratory  — 
His  Birth  —  Lost  his  Mother  —  Early  Religious  Impressions — Inured 
to  Hardship  —  A  Bashful,  Stammering,  Unpromising  Boy  — His  Educa- 
tion—  Went  to  School  Barefooted,  and  Hemmed  Towels  at  Recess  — 
Fond  of  Flowers  and  Full  of  Jokes  —  Drilled  in  Elocution  — Tired  of 
School  — Wishes  to  "Go  to  Sea"  — Subject  of  a  Revival  — Unites 
with  the  Church — Naval  Project  Given  up — Attention  Turned  to  the 
Ministry  — Enters  College —  Choice  of  Studies  —  Preferring  Rhetoric, 
Studies  to  Know  "What  to  Say,"  and  "How  to  Say  it"  —  Strictly 
Temperate — Conducts  Prayer-Meetings  —  His  Creed  —  Religious  Im- 
pressions—  Troubled  —  Believed  — Buoyant  —  Teaches  School  —  Lec- 
tures and  Preaches  — The  Slave's  Friend  — Graduates  — Studies  Theol- 
ogy—Perplexed about  Entering  the  Ministry  —  Marries  —  First  Pas- 
toral Charge  —  Did  Everything  Himself  —  Moves  to  Indianapolis  — 
Style  of  Preaching —  His  Popularity  —  Revival  in  his  Church  —  Moves 
to  Brooklyn  —  Visits  England  and  Europe  —  Lectures  in  England,  and, 


Xvi  CONTENTS. 

FAOI 

Braving  all  Opposition,  Pleads  America's  Cause  Successfully — His 
London  Letter  glowing  with  Joy  and  Gratitude  to  God,  and  Love  to  his 
Enemies  —  Impression  Favorable  —  Affectionate  Enthusiasm  for  him  — 
His  War  Sermons  —  Oration  at  Fort  Sumter.  .  .  .  .383 

DWIGHT  L.  MOODY. 

Power  of  Individual  Effort  —  Earnestness  the  Secret  of  Success  —  A 
Great  Want  — The  Church  and  the  World  Asleep  —  His  Birth  —  Lay- 
preaching  Encouraged  —  Paul's  Great  Success  —  Labor,  Labor!  — 
Moody's  Early  Religious  Views  —  His  Conversion  —  Joins  the  Congre- 
gationalists  —  Education  Limited  —  His  Labors  Successful  —  A  Great 
Worker  in  Sabbath  Schools — Organized  Mission  Sunday  School  in 
Chicago  —  Its  Growth  —  Started  Prayer-Meetings  —  Labors  Blessed  — 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  Begun  —  Daily  Prayer-Meeting  — 
His  Trust  in  God  for  a  Living — No  Salary  —  His  Active  Labors  in  the 
Army  — His  Zeal  at  the  Battle  of  Fort  Donelson  — Goes  to  God  for 
Direction  —  Efficient  in  Building  —  Calls  to  go  Abroad — Crosses  the 
Atlantic  —  Organized  Daily  Prayer-Meeting  in  London  —  Labors  in 
Sunday-School  Convention  —  Successful  —  Deeds,  not  Words,  a  True 
Sign  of  Principle  —  His  Success  as  an  Organizer;  as  a  Speaker;  as  a 
Revivalist  —  How  to  "Get  up  a  Revival"  —  His  Large  Audiences  in 
Chicago — His  Popularity  at  Home — His  Personal  Influence  over  Others.  395 

GAKKETSON  I.  YOUNG. 

Solemn  Warning  — "Be  Ye  also  Ready !"  — His  Birth  —  Parents.  —  Boy- 
hood—  Education  —  A   Diligent   Scholar  —  His  AcWlemical   Course  at 
Calcutta,  Ohio— Enters  Jefferson  College  — Graduates  — His  Habile — 
Taught  High  School  —  Studies  and   Practises  Law  —  Elected  Probate 
Judge  —  A  Neat  Book-keeper  —  Marries  —  Early  Religious  Training  — 
Read  the  Bible  Daily — Joins   the   Episcopal   Church  —  His   Military 
Position  —  Labors  in  War  Department  —  Resigns,  and  Returns  Home  — 
Purchased  the  "Buckeye  State"— Edits  it  — His  Success  — Elected  to 
the  Ohio  Legislature — His  Character — Patriotic  —  Winning   Ways  — 
Noble  Traits  — "He  Made  Friends  Fast"  — His  Sudden  Death  — Im- 
pressive  Scenes   at  the  Capitol;    and  at  his  Home  —  Hia  Funeral  — 
Marked   Honors  Paid   him  by  the  Governor  and  State  Legislature  — 
Eulogies  by  the  Members.  ......  403 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FAREWELL  TO  THE  HOSPITAL. 

A  Brief  and  Solemn  Review  —  Number  of  Patients  in  Hospital  —  Average 
Daily  and  Total  Mortality  of  the  War  —  Interviews  with  Soldiers  — 
Chaplains  much  Exposed  to  Disease  —  Solemn  to  Part  —  Farewell  to  the 
Chesapeake;  to  the  Chapel;  to  the  Matrons;  to  Hampton;  to  the  Chap- 
lains—  Farewell  to  the  Christian  Soldiers  —  Appeal  and  Farewell  to  the 
Impenitent— Farewell  to  the  Dead  — The  Great  Christian  Victory  — 
The  Rebellion  Dissected  — Source  of  the  Victory  — Munificent  Gifts  — 
Americans  and  Europeans  Whetting  One  Another  —  Go  Forward.  .  411 


it •ft.urf  Suits  m  miftrlh*  Mtttm  diittid  «  Iter-  v,v.  .  - 


CHRISTIANITY  IN  THE  WAR. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

TOUR  TO  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS — THE  DEVIL  OUT-FLANKED — 
"THE  BIGGEST  GUN  EVER  FIRED  IN  AMERICA"  —  PLUCKING  FLOW- 
ERS AND  MAKING  SNOWBALLS  AT  THE  SAME  TIME  —  GATHERING 
UP  THE  LOST  SHEEP  —  PREACHING  TO  COLORADO  VOLUNTEERS  — 
LATE  PAPERS  "  GO  OFF  LIKE  HOT  CAKES  "  —  THE  MIGHTY  STRUG- 
GLE WAXES  HOTTER  —  GOING  TO  THE  ARMY  —  VISITING  AND  BID- 
DING GOOD-BY  TO  FRIENDS — TOUCHING  AT  PITTSBURG  AND  BALTI- 
MORE, WE  ENJOYED  A  VERY  PLEASANT  FORETASTE  OF  ARMY  AND 
HOSPITAL  LIFE  AT  WASHINGTON,  FORTRESS  MONROE,  AND  NEW- 
BERN —  ANOTHER  SAIL  BROUGHT  us  TO  PLYMOUTH. 

THE  present  is  an  eventful  age — an  age  for  intellectual 
research,  discovery,  scientific  investigation;  and  for  great  and 
mighty  changes  and  revolutions  in  the  social,  moral,  civil,  and 
religious  world,  is  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  man. 

It  is  peculiarly  a  fast  age.  Kingdoms  and  empires  now  rise, 
flourish,  fade,  and  fall,  almost  in  a  day.  And  the  human  mind 
ever  on  the  alert  in  search  of  new  truths,  under  the  present 
march  of  mind,  we  often  see  old  creeds  and  platforms  give  way, 
and  give  rise  to  new  and  better  ones.  Although  our  country  lias 
just  emerged  from  a  baptism  of  blood,  and  although  Satan  is 
whetting  his  sword  and  rallying  his  forces,  yet  with  oceans  tra- 
versed with  telegraphs,  and  continents  spanned  with  railroads, 
knowledge  is  running  to  and  fro,  and  Christianity  is  spreading 
rapidly. 

When  the  nation's  indignation  was  stirred  at  the  rebel  bom- 

15 


16  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    TTAE. 

bardment  of  Fort  Sumter,  April  12,  1861,  the  writer  was  wind- 
ing  his  way  across  the  boundless  plains  of  Nebraska,  to  Denver, 
and  the  Rocky  Mountains  of  Colorado.  Leaving  Omaha,  Neb., 
April  21,  after  riding  over  six  successive  days  and  nights  in 
the  coach,  and  travelling  over  six  hundred  miles  up  the  broad 
waters  of  the  Platte,  we  reached  Denver,  and  put  up  at  the 
Cherokee  House,  at  twelve  dollars  a  week  for  boarding  and 
lodging.  It  was  here,  in  this  bustling  city,  that  we  first  felt  the 
gloom  that  overspread  the  country,  occasioned  by  the  signal 
defeat  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Here  we  spent  several 
months  in  preaching,  and  gathering  up  the  scattered  sheep  of 
Israel,  and  preaching  occasionally  to  small  squads  of  Colorado 
volunteers.  It  was  at  Laurette  —  far  beyond  Pike's  Peak,  at  the 
foot  of  the  snowy  range,  between  two  lofty  spurs  of  the  back- 
bone of  North  America,  in  the  regions  of  perpetual  snow,  where 
in  July  you  can  pluck  flowers  with  one  hand  and  make  snow- 
balls with  the  other  —  that  the  glorious  news  of  Lincoln's  Eman- 
cipation Proclamation  first  fell  upon  our  ears.  A  mountain 
merchant  then  said,  "  It  is  the  biggest  gun  ever  fired  in  America;  " 
while  Lord  John  Russell,  of  England,  pronounced  it  "  an  act 
of  vengeance  on  the  slave-holder" 

Meeting  here,  beneath  the  shade  of  the  lofty  peaks  and  rocky 
cliffs,  for  preaching,  prayer,  and  praise,  we  often  enjoyed  precious 
times  of  refreshing.  On  one  occasion,  we  out-flanked  the  devil, 
and  broke  up  a  Sabbath-evening  auction,  and  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  the  Sabbath-breaking  auctioneer  haul  in  his  unsold 
goods,  and  come  to  church  himself.  And  although  we  were 
separated  from  the  seat  of  war  by  a  distance  of  some  two  thou- 
sand miles,  yet  we  watched  the  movements  of  the  two  mighty 
armies  with  intense  interest.  Every  mail  was  looked  for  with 
the  greatest  anxiety,  and  the  late  papers,  by  thousands,  "went 
off  like  hot  cakes."  But  seeing  the  mighty  struggle  for  our 
national  existence  waxing  hotter  and  hotter,  and  feeling  deeply 
anxious  to  aid  in  quelling  the  rebellion,  we  pulled  up  stakes  and 
struck  for  home,  and  hastened  to  lend  our  assistance  as  chaplain  of 
the  101st  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  Having  visited 
my  friends,  and  bidden  farewell  to  a  kind  and  affectionate  sister 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  17 

and  her  family,  we  took  the  cars  at  New  Brighton,  Pa.,  and  soon 
landed  in  the  thronged  streets  of  Pittsburg  and  Alleghany. 
Leaving  these  smoky  twin  cities,  in  the  Pennsylvania  Central 
Express,  with  lightning  speed  we  hurried  across  the  lofty  Alle- 
ghanies,  with  their  beautiful  curves  and  deep  ravines,  and  soon 
found  ourselves  promenading  the  broad  pavements  of  Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue,  overlooked  by  the  splendid  dome  of  the  national 
capitol  at  one  end,  and  the  "  White  House  "  at  the  other.  Here 
we  visited  a  few  U.  S.  General  Hospitals,  and,  for  the  first  time, 
enjoyed  the  privilege  of  preaching  to  the  sick  and  wounded  sol- 
diers, lying  upon  their  narrow  couches,  in  their  airy  wards. 
It  was  in  Douglas  Hospital,  chaplained  by  Rev.  W.  Y.  Brown, 
U.S.A.  Having  enjoyed  this  little  foretaste  of  hospital  life,  we 
hastened  back  to  Baltimore,  where  we  fell  in  with  G.  S.  Griffith, 
Esq.,  president  of  the  Maryland  Branch  of  the  U.  S.  Chris- 
tian Commission,  who,  though  a  stranger,  received  me  very 
kindly,  and  gave  me  a  rich  supply  of  Testaments,  books,  papers, 
and  tracts  for  my  regiment.  Embracing  the  first  opportunity, 
we  sailed  down  the  broad  bosom  of  Chesapeake  Bay  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  Va.,  and  soon  made  our  way  up  to  the  Chesapeake  Hos- 
pital, where  we  met  with  a  very  kind  reception  from  Chaplain 
James  Marshall,  U.S.A.,  stationed  at  that  point,  faithfully  labor- 
ing for  the  welfare  of  the  large  number  of  patients  collected  at 
that  noted  place.  Waiting  for  transportation,  we  spent  a  few 
days  here  very  agreeably ;  preaching  for  the  chaplain  Sabbath 
morning  to  his  patients,  and  to  a  regiment  of  colored  troops,  in 
Camp  Distribution,  in  the  afternoon.  Having  enjoyed  this, 
another  little  taste  of  hospital  life,  early  Tuesday  morning  we 
bade  farewell  to  the  thronged  wharf  of  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
sailed  in  the  splendid  steamer  Spaulding  for  Beaufort,  N.  C., 
rounding  the  dangerous  coast  of  Cape  Hatteras  in  the  night, 
while  wrapped  in  the  sweet  embraces  of  sleep,  entirely  uncon- 
scious of  the  danger  encountered.  But  rocked  by  the  raging 
billows  of  the  troubled  ocean,  upon  leaving  my  berth  in  the 
morning,  I  found  my  head  so  light,  and  my  stomach  so  disturbed, 
that  I  could  not  walk  for  sea-sickness.  But  having  fully  recov- 
ered before  reaching  Beaufort,  we  hurried,  "  by  rail,"  to  captured 
2 


18  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Newbern,  surrounded  with  fortifications  and  soldiers  without, 
and  teeming  with  colored  people  within.  Here  we  visited  sol- 
diers' camps,  chaplains'  quarters,  hospitals,  and  delegates  »^f  the 
Christian  Commission,  preaching  as  often  as  we  could ;  and  thus 
enjoyed  another  very  profitable  initiatory  step  into  the  panorama 
of  hospital  and  army  life.  After  waiting  a  few  days,  a  Govern- 
ment transport  arrived,  and  sailing  down  the  broad  Pamlico  and 
up  the  placid  Albemarle  Sounds,  we  arrived  at  Plymouth,  N".  C., 
Dec.  19,  1863,  where  we  found  the  brave  boys  of  the  101st 
comfortably  housed  in  their  warm  winter-quarters,  and  met 
with  a  very  warm  reception  from  Col.  A.  W.  Taylor,  then  com- 
manding the  regiment. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  19 


CHAPTER  I. 

ENTERING   THE    SERVICE. 

ARRIVAL  AT  PLYMOUTH  —  FOUND  OUR  KEGIMENT,  THE  101ST  PA. 
VOL.,  COMFORTABLY  HOUSED — THE  GARRISON  HUNGRY  FOR  THE 
GOSPEL  —  CHRISTMAS  SERMON — BIG  TURN-OUT — THE  REBELS  CAP- 
TURED AND  DROVE  us  OFF. 

ON  arriving  at  Plymouth,  we  found  the  garrison,  containing 
some  two  thousand  men,  made  up  of  the  following  regiments 
and  companies:  the  103d  Pa.  Vol.,  Col.  Leghman;  the  85th  N.  Y. 
Vol.,  Col.  Fidello;  the  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  Lt.-Col.  A.  W.  Taylor; 
the  16th  Conn.  Vol.,  Col.  Beech ;  a  New  York  Independent  Bat- 
tery,  and  parts  of  the  12th  N.  Y.  Cavalry  and  the  2d  Mass.  Heavy 
Artillery,  all  commanded  by  Brig.-Gen.  H.  W.  Wessels.  They 
had  been  there  a  long  time,  and  were  almost  entirely  destitute 
of  preaching.  Col.  Taylor  preached  occasionally,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Morris,  a  faithful  delegate  of  the  U.  S.  Christian  Commis- 
sion, had  just  arrived,  and  held  service  one  or  two  Sabbaths. 
At  his  request,  I  preached  the  first  Sabbath  evening  after  my 
arrival,  and  announced  a  Christmas  sermon  for  the  following 
Sabbath  evening.  At  the  hour  appointed,  the  large  Methodist 
church,  seating  some  eight  hundred,  was  crowded  to  overflowing : 
hundreds,  they  said,  had  to  go  away  for  want  of  room.  Several 
ladies,  Gen.  Wessels,  and  his  staff,  graced  the  wide-awake  audi- 
ence with  their  presence.  I  gave  them  a  sermon  on  the  advent 
of  the  Saviour,  (Gal.  iv.  4,  5,)  and  they  listened  with  rapt  atten- 
tion. From  that  time  on,  we  had  a  crowded  house  every  Sab- 
bath. The  soldiers  and  officers  seemed  to  be  hungry  for  the 
gospel.  The  field  was  great,  white,  ready  to  harvest.  It  was  a 
delightful  work  to  preach  to  them.  We  had  a  large,  interesting 
Bible-class,  and  a  semi-weekly,  well-attended  prayer-meeting. 
Our  meetings  were  usually  very  interesting,  solemn,  and  impret**- 


20  CHBISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

ive;  and  at  one  time  we  seemed  to  be  on  the  eve  of  a  great 
revival,  but  the  rebels  came,  and  drove  us  off  before  we  enjoyed  it. 
The  colored  people  had  preaching  or  prayer-meeting  in  the  same 
house  every  Sabbath  afternoon,  and  a  flourishing  Sabbath-school, 
conducted  by  a  sergeant  of  the  New  York  Battery.  Chaplain 
Dixon,  of  the  16th  Conn.  Vol.,  and  Chaplain  Rawlings,  of  the 
103d  Pa.  Vol.,  soon  arrived,  and  took  part  in  the  regular  services 
of  the  Sabbath.  Many  of  the  soldiers  and  officers  took  an  active 
part,  and  seemed  to  be  deeply  interested.  The  whole  garrison, 
without  any  distinction  of  sects,  together  with  a  few  of  the  citizens 
of  the  place,  met  together.  We  had  no  church  organization, 
but  whenever  we  met  a  man  apparently  bearing  the  image  of 
Christ,  we  treated  him  as  a  brother  in  the  Lord.  Graced  with 
a  well-played  melodeon,  we  had  a  fine  choir,  which  gave  life  and 
animation  to  the  services.  Each  chaplain  labored  with  his  own 
regiment  during  the  week,  and  being  well  supplied  with  religious 
papers,  tracts,  and  books,  from  the  Christian  Commission,  our 
religious  work  went  on  finely  until  the  attack  by  the  rebels,  April 
17,  1864,  which  resulted  in  our  capture,  after  a  hot  siege  of  three 
days. 


CHAPTER  II. 

SKETCHES   OF   SOLDIERS   AND   OFFICEES. 

A  FORT-FISHER  HERO  —  A  HEROIC  SOLDIER  :  "  I  DON'T  BACKSLIDE  "  — 
"JESUS  is  ALL  I  WANT"  —  "STAND  BY  THE  FLAG,  AND  CLING 
TO  THE  CROSS"  —  "ALL  is  WELL!"  A  SOLDIER'S  FAREWELL  — 
CAPT.  TRESOUTHICK — LIEUT.  EANSOM:  His  DYING  PRAYER  AND 
"GLORY  TO  GOD" — CAPT.  FEE:  His  REQUEST,  "PLEASE  PRAY 

FOR    ME"  —  A    EOLLING  CHAPLAIN — "  YOU    SAVED    MY    LlFE  "  — 

A  DYING  SOLDIER'S  LETTER — LIEUT.  MERRILL  :  BAPTIZED  AT  MID- 
NIGHT —  THE  DYING  CAPTAIN  :  "  HURRAH  FOR  JESUS."  BY  CHAP- 
LAIN MARSHALL. 

THE  following  sketches  of  patients,  on  to  page  62,  were  taken 
from  the  U.  S.  General  Hospital,  Fortress  Monroe,  Va. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  21 


A  FORT  FISHER  HERO. 

John  B.  Duncan,  Co.  B,  3d  N.  H.  Vol.,  was  wounded  at  the 
capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15, 1865.  Eager  for  victory, 
after  having  fought  several  hours,  he  mounts  the  fort,  and  while 
there  battling  for  his  country,  about  fifteen  minutes  before  the 
surrender,  a  minie-ball  passed  through  his  shoulder,  entering 
just  above  the  right  lung.  He  was  brought  here  Jan.  19,  and  I 
preached  to  him  and  his  ward  the  next  evening,  from  the  Sa- 
viour's last  farewell  promise,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway." 
Blessed  with  patience  and  courage,  though  he  suffered  severely, 
he  bore  it  all  very  patiently  like  a  young  hero.  Not  a  murmur 
fell  from  his  lips.  Approaching  his  bed  one  day,  he  said,  "  I 
want  you  to  talk  to  me,  chaplain."  We  found  him  very  tender, 
anxious,  prayerful,  and  penitent.  He  said  he  had  been  awakened 
at  Hilton  Head,  S.  C.,  last  May,  and  had  been  praying  ever 
since.  He  said  "  he  trusted  in  Christ,  and  that  he  was  dear  and 
precious;  that  he  felt  prepared,  and  was  not  afraid  to  die." 
Having  with  undaunted  courage  fought  the  rebels  at  Fort 
Fisher,  and  shared  in  the  honor  of  the  glorious  victory  there 
achieved,  and  trusting  in  Him  "  who  hath  abolished  death,"  he 
now  prepares  to  meet  "  the  last  enemy,"  death,  and  says,  "  If  I 
die,  send  my  Testament  (much  worn  by  use),  my  portfolio,  and 
my  jack-knife  to  my  mother,  and  tell  her  riot  to  mourn  for  me, 
for  I  feel  that  I  can  die  happy,  and  am  willing  to  go,  and  hope 
and  pray  we  will  all  meet  in  heaven." 

I  talked,  read,  and  prayed  with  him.  He  was  very  anxious 
to  be  talked  to,  and  hear  about  Jesus.  On  the  last  morning  of 
his  life  he  said,  "  I  feel  happy  in  the  Lord."  On  going  into  the 
ward  to  preach  on  Saturday  evening,  we  found  him  worse,  and 
breathing  very  hard.  We  asked  him  if  he  would  like  to  hear. 
He  said,  "Yes;"  and  while  we  were  singing,  "  I  am  going  home 
to  die  no  more,"  he  went,  and,  doubtless,  through  grace,  achieved 
a  victory  far  more  glorious  than  that  won  at  Fort  Fisher.  His 
serene  countenance,  resignation,  and  easy  departure  seemed  to 
Bay :  "  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  " 


22  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"  To  die  is  gain."  How  sudden  the  change  !  How  striking 
the  contrast  of  his  condition  on  the  field  of  battle  with  his  con- 
dition in  heaven  !  Here  all  is  war,  blood,  and  death ;  there  all 
is  life,  joy,  and  peace !  Here  he  was  clothed  in  garments  stained 
with  blood  ;  there  in  robes  white  and  clean  !  Here  he  was  sur- 
rounded with  the  dead  and  dying ;  there  with  the  redeemed  and 
living !  Here  his  wounds  were  bathed  in  blood ;  there  in  the 
waters  of  the  river  of  life !  Here  he  shouted  on  to  victory ; 
there  on  to  glory !  Here  he  bore  a  sword ;  there  he  wears  a 
crown  !  And  "  though  dead,  he  yet  speaketh."  His  tongue, 
though  now  mute  in  death,  seems  to  say  to  every  surviving  sol- 
dier, "  Be  ye  also  ready  —  PREPARE  TO  MEET  THY  GOD." 


A  HEROIC  SOLDIER. 

Elias  Babcock,  10th  N.  Y.,  Co.  B.,  was  wounded  at  the  last 
battle  before  Petersburg,  and  brought  here  April  4,  with  his  left 
leg  amputated  above  the  knee.  He  had  been  sick  before  the 
battle ;  and  although  his  stump  seemed  to  do  pretty  well  for  a 
while,  he  always  looked  like  a  man  that  was  going  to  die.  His 
ward  was  full  of  stumps  or  amputated  limbs,  fresh  from  the 
bloody  field  and  fierce  conflict  that  gained  the  glorious  victory 
that  put  Jeff.  Davis  to  flight,  brought  down  Richmond,  and  led 
to  Lee's  surrender  and  the  overthrow  of  the  great  rebellion. 

On  my  first  approaching  him,  I  found  him  a  prayerful,  decided 
Christian.  He  said,  though  in  the  army,  "  I  don't  backslide."  I 
visited  him  very  frequently,  and  often  preached  to  him  and  sev- 
eral others  on  their  death-beds  in  his  ward.  He  seemed  to  enjoy 
it  very  much.  Though  pale  and  weak,  he  would  always  put  out 
his  arm  to  shake  hands  on  my  approach.  A  few  days  before 
his  departure,  he  said,  "  I  thought  I  was  dying  last  night,  and 
my  thoughts  reverted  to  the  place  of  my  conversion  four  years 
ago."  "All  was  bright — I  felt  very  happy."  "This  wound  is 
God's  rod  to  comfort  me ;  it  is  for  my  good."  "  Oh,  the  pre- 
oious  promises  in  God's  word !"  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die."  "I 
believe  I  could  die  happy."  "  Men  may  live  along  with  reli- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  23 

gion,  but  when  they  get  wounded  and  begin  to  look  into  eternity, 
and  feel  the  near  approach  of  heaven,  it  is  far  better."  He  spoke 
of,  and  seemed  to  realize  deeply,  the  great  sacrifice  God  requires 
us  to  make  for  Christ.  At  another  interview,  when  I  spoke  to 
him  about  Christ  knocking  at  the  door  for  admittance  into  the 
sinner's  heart,  he  said,  "  I  have  let  him  in  long  ago."  Here  the 
solemn  scene  beggars  description.  With  his  weeping  wife 
standing  at  his  side,  and  with  eyes  streaming  with  tears,  and 
clasped  hands  lifted  up  toward  heaven,  and  gating  into  eternity, 
he  said,  "  It  is  far  better."  But  passing  this  lofty  attainment, 
and  rising  higher  and  higher,  and  drawing  nearer  and  nearer  to 
God,  apparently  "  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,"  he  seemed  to 
realize  "a joy  unspeakable." 

Though  he  suffered  long  and  severely,  he  bore  it  all  very  pa- 
tiently ;  not  a  murmur  fell  from  his  lips.  Blessed  with  God's 
sanctifying  grace,  his  wounded  limb  was  a  healing  balm  to  his 
soul.  And  his  dying  words,  "  This  wound  is  God's  rod  to  com- 
fort me ;  it  is  for  my  good,"  should  strengthen  the  heart  and 
cheer  the  soul  of  every  wounded  soldier.  "  Behold,  happy  is 
the  man  whom  God  correcteth."  His  last  words  were,  "  I  am 
happy."  Thus  passed  away  the  heroic  soldier,  doubly  crowned 
—  crowned  with  victory  on  the  field,  and  with  glory  in  heaven. 
"  To  die  is  gain." 

"JESUS  IS  ALL  I  WANT." 

Man  is  a  creature  of  vast  desires — so  vast  that  the  world  with 
all  its  grandeur  and  glory  will  not  satisfy  him.  Though  he 
really  wants  but  little,  "  nor  wants  that  little  long,"  yet  "  the 
more  he  gets  the  more  he  wants."  Let  a  man  own  all  the  gold 
of  earth,  possess  all  the  wealth  of  the  universe,  command  all 
thrones,  wield  all  sceptres,  control  all  commerce,  scale  all  heights, 
fathom  all  depths,  enjoy  all  the  pleasures  that  this  world  can 
afford,  and  yet  there  remains  an  empty  void  within.  The  insa- 
tiable heart  still  cries,  "  Give  !  give !  "  and  longs  for  more. 

But  is  there  no  adequate  portion?  Is  there  no  remedy  for 
this  insatiable  thirst?  Must  man  live  and  die  famishing  upon 
the  empty  vanities  of  this  fleeting  world  ?  No ;  he  need  not 


24  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

There  is  the  infinite  God,  and  the  all-comprehensive  Saviour, 
filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  God,  before  whom  "  all  nations  are 
as  nothing,  and  counted  less  than  nothing  and  vanity." 

Yes,  man  of  the  world,  here  is  Jesus,  infinitely  rich  in  wis- 
dom, honor,  power,  and  glory,  waiting  to  make  you  infinitely 
rich  in  all  the  joys  of  earth,  and  in  all  the  glories  of  heaven. 
Jesus  is  here  willing  to  be  "  made  unto  you  wisdom,  righteous- 
ness, sanctification,  and  redemption." 

The  following  incident  shows,  in  a  very  striking  manner,  the 
all-sufficiency  of  Christ  as  a  satisfying  portion.  Walking  over 
the  field  of  battle,  shortly  after  a  severe  fight,  a  chaplain  stepped 
up  to  a  wounded  soldier  lying  on  the  cold  ground,  apparently  in 
severe  pain,  and  said :  "  Can  I  do  anything  for  you  ?  "  "  Oh, 
no,"  replied  the  soldier ;  "  I  want  nothing.  I  have  Jesus  here 
with  me,  and  he  is  all  I  want."  "But,"  said  the  chaplain,  "you 
can't  live  but  a  few  minutes  longer !  "  "I  know  it ;  but  I  am 
in  perfect  peace.  I  have  no  fear  of  death.  Please  put  my 
blanket  over  me  and  cover  my  face,  and  let  me  shut  out  all  but 
Jesus ;  so  let  me  die." 

Oh,  what  wonderful  words  !  "  I  want  nothing  ! "  How  rich 
the  dying  soldier !  Go  and  gaze  upon  the  wonderful  scene. 
See !  There  he  lies  with  his  mangled  body  bathed  in  his  own 
blood,  and  wrapped  in  a  thin  blanket,  and  yet  he  says,  "  I  want 
nothing."  No  earthly  friend  is  near ;  not  a  prayer  was  offered 
for  him  ;  not  a  tear  was  shed  over  him  ;  not  an  emotion  of  sym- 
pathy to  console  him ;  and  yet  the  warm  response  rises  from  his 
gushing  heart,  "  I  want  nothing  "  —  nothing  of  the  world ;  and 
why  ?  His  soul,  his  heart,  was  full  of  Jesus.  "  I  have  Jesus 
here,  and  he  is  all  I  want."  Oh,  what  a  rich  possession  !  What 
an  all-sufficient  portion !  Where  is  the  worldling  that  can  say 
as  much  ?  Search  creation  through,  explore  all  heights,  examine 
all  kingdoms,  ascend  all  thrones,  muster  all  millionnaires,  and 
where  can  you  find  one  out  of  Christ  that  can  say,  "  I  have  all 
I  want."  No,  it  is  not  in  the  riches,  honors,  or  pleasures  of  the 
world  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  the  immortal  mind.  Then  let 
us  pray  to  be  crucified  to  the  world  and  consecrated  to  God ;  so 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB.  25 

that  when  we  come  to  die  we  may  be  able  to  say,  "  I  have  Jesus, 
and  he  is  all  I  want." 

"STAND  BY  THE  FLAG,  AND  CLING  TO  THE  CROSS." 

Every  age  produces  some  vivid,  remarkable,  and  sublime  say- 
ings, words  glowing  with  intense  thought,  lofty  fervor,  and 
heroic  devotion.  Bacon's  "  Knowledge  is  power;  "  Patrick  Henry's 
"  Give  me  liberty  or  give  me  death;"  Gen.  Grant's  "/  am  de- 
termined to  fight  it  out  on  this  line;  "  and  Abraham  Lincoln's 
"  Charity  for  all  and  malice  toward  none  "  will  live  until  the 
close  of  time.  So  will  the  immortal  words,  "  Stand  by  the  flag, 
and  ding  to  the  cross."  They  are  the  dying  words  of  Edward 
M.  Schneider,  of  the  57th  Mass.  Regiment,  to  his  brother  in  the 
navy.  When  the  regiment  was  being  formed,  young  Schneider 
was  at  school  in  Philip's  Academy,  Andover,  Mass.;  but  fired 
with  a  lofty  patriotism,  he  dropped  his  books,  laid  down  his  pen, 
girded  on  the  sword,  and  boldly  marched  to  the  defence  of  his 
country,  though  strongly  opposed  by  his  friends. 

During  the  weary  march  from  Annapolis  to  the  Rapidau, 
though  but  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  steadily  kept  his  place  in 
the  ranks,  and  receiving  a  slight  wound  on  the  North  Anna,  was 
sent  to  Port  Royal  for  transportation  to  Washington ;  but  pre- 
ferring the  field  to  the  hospital,  and  longing  to  go,  he  returned 
to  his  regiment,  and  joined  them  at  Coal  Harbor ;  and  being  so 
full  of  fight,  he  said  to  his  chaplain,  while  preparing  to  charge 
upon  the  enemy  near  the  "Dunn  House,"  " I  intend  to  be  the  first 
one  to  enter  their  works"  The  charge  was  made.  On  they  rush, 
with  a  full  determination  to  conquer  or  die ;  and  with  an  eager 
heart  young  Schneider  led  the  advance,  keeping  several  paces 
ahead,  as  they  approached  the  awful  crisis.  He  was  almost 
there,  near  enough  to  feel  the  hot  flash  of  the  rebel  musketry  in 
his  face,  when  a  fatal  ball  pierced  his  body  and  brought  him  to 
the  ground.  He  was  carried  back  to  the  hospital,  with  six  hun- 
dred and  fifty  of  his  comrades,  where  he  lay  all  night  with  his 
wound  undressed,  waiting  his  turn.  He  suffered  severely,  yet, 
possessing  a  heroic  patience,  not  a  murmur  fell  from  his  lips. 


26  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

The  chaplain,  Rev.  Mr.  Dashiell,  visited  him,  looked  at  his  wound ; 
and  the  suffering  soldier,  anxiously  looking  him  in  the  face, 
asks,  "  What  do  you  think  of  it,  chaplain  ?  "  Seeing  that  it  was 
mortal,  the  chaplain  was  so  deeply  aifected  that  he  could  neither 
reply  nor  restrain  his  tears.  Edward  interpreted  the  meaning  of 
his  silent  tears  that  his  wound  was  mortal.  "  Don't  weep,  chaplain," 
he  said ;  "  it  is  God's  will.  Please  write  to  my  father,  and  tell 
him  that  I  have  tried  to  do  my  duty  to  my  country  and  to  God." 
He  disposed  of  his  effects,  giving  ten  dollars  to  the  U.  S.  Chris- 
tian Commission,  twenty  dollars  to  the  American  Board,  and  trifles 
to  his  friends.  Then,  in  the  simplicity  of  his  heart,  he  said,  "  I 
have  many  good  friends,  schoolmates,  and  companions.  They 
will  want  to  know  where  I  am,  and  how  I  am  getting  on.  Tell 
them  I  am  gone,  and  that  I  die  content.  And  the  boys  in 
the  regiment,  chaplain,  I  want  you  to  tell  them  to  stand 
by  the  dear  old  flag.  And  there  is  my  brother  in  the  navy, 
write  to  him,  and  tell  him  to  stand  by  the  flag,  and  cling  to  the 
cross  of  Christ."  The  surgeon  came,  examined  his  wound,  and 
said,  "  It  is  my  duty  to  tell  you  that  you  will  soon  go  home." 
"  Yes,  doctor,  I  am  going  home.  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I 
don't  know  how  the  valley  will  be  when  I  get  to  it,  but  it  is  all 
right  now."  Then,  gathering  up  his  waning  strength,  he  calmly 
and  solemnly  repeated  the  verse  often  sung  by  the  soldiers,  who, 
amid  all  the  whirl  and  shock  of  battle,  never  forget  their  loved 
ones  at  home, — 

"Soon  with  angels  I'll  be  marching, 
•  With  bright  laurels  on  my  brow: 
I  have  for  my  country  fallen; 
Who  will  care  for  sister  now?  " 

"  The  night  passed  away,  death  came  on  apace ; "  he  still  suf- 
fered intensely,  yet  without  a  complaining  word.  Sabbath  morn- 
ing came,  and,  with  the  dawning  of  the  light,  his  blood-washed 
soul  passed  away  on  the  17th  of  June,  1864,  just  eighty-nine 
years  after  the  battle  of  Bunker's  Hill.  It  was  sad  news  to  send 
to  his  father,  then  a  well-known  missionary  of  the  American 
Board  at  Aintab,  Turkey.  It  was  a  great  loss  to  lose  such  a 
noble  son;  yet  it  was  glorious  to  die  such  a  triumphant  death. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB.  27 

• 

His  work  is  done.  His  destiny  is  fixed.  He  died  that  his  country- 
might  live.  His  death  was  a  triumphant  victory.  And  although 
he  was  not  permitted  to  stand  first  upon  the  ramparts  of  the  ene- 
my's works  at  Petersburg,  yet,  having  died  such  a  glorious  death, 
no  doubt  to-day  he  stands  among  the  first  within  the  ramparts 
of  heaven. 

His  grave  is  by  the  roadside,  marked  by  the  rude  palings 
erected  by  Chaplain  Dashiell.  "The  summer -breeze  sweeps 
through  the  sighing  pines  overspreading  the  heaved-up  mound. 
Mournful,  yet  sweet,  the  music  of  the  wind-harp  —  mournful, 
because  one  so  young,  so  full  of  life,  and  capable  of  such  a  future, 
should  go  so  soon ;  sweet,  in  that  he  did  his  work  so  well." 
"  Had  he  lived  a  century,  he  could  not  have  made  it  more  com- 
plete." "  And,"  says  Carlton,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the 
facts,  and  part  of  the  language  of  this  sketch,  "  I  have  stood  by 
the  mouldering  dust  of  those  whose  names  are  great  in  history; 
whose  deeds  and  virtues  are  cut  in  brass  and  marble ;  who  were 
reverenced  while  living,  and  mourned  for  when  dead, —  but  never 
have  I  felt  a  profoimder  reverence  for  departed  worth  than  for 
him  who  sleeps  beneath  the  pines,  uncoffined,  unshrouded,  wearing, 
as  when  he  fell,  the  uniform  of  his  country." 

His  last  words  — 

"STAND  BY  THE  FLAG,  AND  CLING  TO  THE  CROSS!" 

will  live  as  long  as  the  flag  of  our  country  waves,  or  the  cross 
of  Christ  endures.  "  They  are  the  emblems  of  all  our  hopes,  both 
for  time  and  for  eternity."  How  heroic  the  patriotism !  and  how 
strong  and  sublime  the  faith  that  prompted  them  !  What  lofty 
conceptions  of  duty  !  What  earnest,  whole-hearted  consecration  do 
they  indicate !  They  are  the  very  cream  and  essence  of  the  young 
hero's  life,  and  the  sum  and  concentration  of  man's  whole  duty. 
What  power,  grandeur,  and  glory  do  they  inspire  and  carry 
along  with  them  !  Dudley  Tyng's  immortal  words:  " STAND  UP 
FOR  JESUS,"  have  fired  the  hearts  of  millions;  but  they  only  im- 
press us  with  our  duty  to  God ;  but  the  heroic  soldier,  with  a 
heart  glowing  with  Christian  zeal  and  patriotic  ardor,  with  his 


28  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

dying  breath  pleads  most  earnestly  both  for  his  country  and  his 
Saviour. 

God  grant  that  his  inspiring  words  may  be  deeply  impressed 
upon  every  Christian's  heart. 

"ALL  IS  WELL!"     A  SOLDIER'S  FAREWELL. 

ELNOR  WINSLOW,  203d  Pa.,  Co.  C,  was  mortally  wounded  at 
the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15,  1864,  and  brought 
to  the  hospital  shortly  after.  Brave  and  courageous,  he  rose 
above  all  fear  in  battle;  and,  eager  for  victory,  he  ventured 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  rebel  guns,  and  there,  amidst  whizzing 
balls  and  bursting  shells,  battling  for  his  country,  he  received  a 
wound,  which,  after  a  few  months  of  severe  and  patient  suffering, 
closed  his  career  on  earth.  Though  blessed  with  a  religious  edu- 
cation, he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country  before  he  enlisted 
under  the  banner  of  the  Cross,  and  was  converted  in  the  army. 
At  my  first  interview  with  him,  he  said  he  had  been  seeking 
religion  for  some  six  months ;  and  that  he  began  to  pray  while 
posted  at  Camp  Cadwalader,  near  Philadelphia,  Pa.  It  was  there, 
it  seems,  he  first  began  to  realize  his  lost  and  undone  condition, 
and  to  feel  his  need  of  a  Saviour.  It  was  then  he  began  to  cry, 
"  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner ! "  I  pointed  him  to  the  Lamb 
of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world,  and  urged  him  to 
look  unto  him.  Orthodox  in  his  views,  and  with  a  clear  concep- 
tion of  the  plan  of  salvation  by  faith  in  Christ,  at  our  next  inter- 
view we  found  him  indulging  a  hope,  and  he  said,  "  I  think, 
now,  I  am  a  Christian."  And  now  having  tasted  something  "  of 
the  heavenly  gift,"  he  thirsts  for  more,  and  realizing  his  depend- 
ence upon  God  for  it,  he  very  frequently  goes  unto  him  in 
prayer,  earnestly  pleading  for  an  increase  of  light,  grace,  and 
strength.  Possessing  a  heart  glowing  with  an  ardent,  lofty 
patriotism,  he  prayed  much  for  his  country.  Though  pale  and 
weak  in  body,  he  appeared  to  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  would 
very  often  make  most  beautiful,  earnest,  touching  prayers.  I 
visited  him  often ;  and  when  I  preached  in  his  ward,  he  seemed 
to  enjoy  the  services  very  much.  He  was  remarkably  mild, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  29 

patient,  and  resigned.  Notwithstanding  the  duration  and  sever- 
ity of  his  sufferings,  yet  in  patience  possessing  his  soul,  he  seemed 
to  lie  passive  in  the  arms  of  Jesus,  patiently  waiting  God's  time. 
Not  a  murmur  fell  from  his  lips.  Rising  above  all  fear  of  death, 
he  said,  "  I  feel  happy  in  the  Lord,  and  am  not  afraid  to  die." 
Deeply  concerned  for  the  salvation  of  his  comrades,  he  frequently 
urged  them  to  be  faithful  to  God  and  their  country.  At  another 
call,  some  ten  days  before  his  death,  full  of  bright  hopes  of  eternal 
glory,  with  Christ  precious  to  his  soul,  he  said,  "ALL  is  WELL." 
"  Yes,  dying  for  your  country,  and  dying  in  the  Lord,  all  must  be 
well.  When  Rev.  S.  B.  Bangs  was  approaching  the  eternal  world, 
full  of  assurance,  he  exclaimed,  'Not  a  doubt!  not  a  cloud!' 
( All  is  well !  more  than  well/  and  looking  out  at  the  window,  he 
said,  '  The  sun  is  setting ;  mine  is  rising.'  '  I  go  from  this 
bed  to  a  crown/  and,  bidding  all  farewell,  he  went  home  to  glory. 
And  here  you  lie,  with  a  body  pierced  with  rebel  bullets,  expect- 
ing soon  to  bid  farewell  to  this  weeping  world,  and,  rising  above 
all  doubts  and  fears,  be  enabled  to  say,  glory  be  to  God,  '  all  is 
well ! " '  Oh,  how  glorious  the  approximation  !  How  lofty  the 
achievement !  Victory  over  the  enemy  on  the  field  of  battle  is 
glorious.  Having  shed  his  own  blood  for  his  country,  and  with 
his  soul  washed  in  the  blood  of  Jesus,  there  he  lies  patiently  wait- 
ing the  summons,  "  Come  up  higher !  "  And  God  keeps  him 
here  among  his  comrades.  And  why  ?  Doubtless  to  give  them 
further  warning  by  his  example,  exhortations,  and  prayers.  Yet, 
like  Paul,  having  a  desire  to  depart,  he  prays,  "  Lord,  can't  you 
as  well  let  me  go  now  as  any  other  time?"  In  the  language  of 
the  sainted  Toplady,  he  seemed  to  cry,  "Oh,  how  this  soul  of  mine 
longs  to  be  yours !  Like  a  bird  imprisoned  in  a  cage,  it  longs  to 
take  its  flight !  Oh,  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove,  then  would  I 
fly  away  to  the  realms  of  bliss,  and  be  at  rest  forever !  Oh, 
that  some  guardian  angel  might  be  commissioned ;  for  I  long  to 
be  absent  from  this  body,  and  to  be  with  my  Lord  forever." 
"  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly ! "  And  yet  this  brave  hero 
lingers  ;  the  grave  yawns.  Death  knocks  at  his  door,  yet  with- 
holds the  fatal  stroke ;  and  his  noble  soul  still  cleaves  to  its  clay 
tenement.  Gather  round,  and  gaze  upon  the  solemn  scene,  and 


30  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

leani  how  a  heroic  soldier  can  die !  His  dear  comrades  weep 
around  him ;  angels  hover  over  him,  till  at  last,  March  14, 1864, 
God,  in  mercy,  snaps  the  silver  cord,  and  his  emancipated  soul 
took  its  flight  home  to  glory. 

CAPTAIN  TRESOUTHICK. 

This  brave  officer  was  brought  to  the  Chesapeake  Hospital 
early  in  July,  1864/with  one  leg  amputated  above  the  knee.  In 
what  engagement  he  was  wounded,  we  do  not  recollect.  But 
having  proven  his  love  for  his  country  on  the  bloody  field,  he 
comes  to  the  hospital  to  complete  the  sacrifice.  With  a  robust 
frame,  a  dark,  heavy  brow,  and  a  countenance  beaming  with  honor 
and  integrity,  his  appearance  was  quite  prepossessing. 

Delighting  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  he  kept  his  Bible  at  his 
side  all  the  time,  drawing  from  its  exceeding  great  and  precious 
promises  strong  consolation.  Blessed  with  the  skilful  surgical 
attendance  of  Dr.  Rush,  Surgeon  of  the  U.S.  volunteers,  and  nursed 
by  a  tender,  faithful  matron  and  an  affectionate  brother,  he  was 
well  cared  for,  and  received  the  best  attention  the  hospital  could 
afford.  And  although  his  loss  was  great  and  suffering  severe, 
yet,  "  counting  all  things  but  loss  "  for  the  salvation  of  his  coun- 
try, he  was  not  only  composed  and  resigned,  but  he  seemed  to 
enjoy  an  inward  peace  the  world  knows  nothing  of. 

I  preached  occasionally  to  him  and  his  large  ward  of  sick  and 
wounded  officers,  in  all  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  patients,  once 
on  the  nature  and  necessity  of  regeneration,  and  again  on  the 
nature  of  God's  presence  and  the  rest  it  affords,  urging  upon 
them  all  the  great  importance  of  "  fleeing  the  wrath  to  come,  and 
immediately  to  lay  hold  of  the  hope  set  before  them  in  the  gospel." 
Fond  of  the  word  of  God  and  prayer,  the  captain  felt  himself 
neglected,  if  Chaplain  Marshall  or  I  did  not  go  every  evening 
and  read  and  pray  with  him.  Consequently  we  did  this  very 
often.  At  the  close  of  the  day,  just  as  the  sun  was  setting  beneath 
the  bloody  sky,  we  would  go,  in  a  quiet,  easy  way,  and  read 
to  him  about  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  and,  after  a  few  words  of 
explanation,  kneel  down  by  his  bedside  and  pray  with  him,  com- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  31 

mending  him,  soul  and  body,  to  the  watchful  care  of  "Him  who 
neither  slumbereth  nor  sleepeth."  He  had  commenced  to  study 
for  the  ministry,  but  with  a  heart  swelling  with  patriotism,  at  his 
country's  call  he  laid  down  theology,  grasped  the  sword,  fought, 
and  fell  a  martyr  in  the  noble  cause  of  liberty  and  truth. 

Giving  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  gracious  state  by  his  words 
and  deeds,  we  never  felt  like  questioning  him  particularly  on  his 
religious  experience.  But  his  meek,  forgiving  spirit  and  heroic 
devotion  evinced  that  there  was  laid  up  for  him  a  crown  of  glory. 
The  weather  became  extremely  warm.  He  lingered  along  the 
shore  of  the  eternal  world  until  late  in  July,  when,  robed  in 
white,  and  crowned  with  a  martyr's  crown,  and  singing  a  victor's 
song,  he  passed  the  precincts  of  mortality,  and  went,  we  trust, 
to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  blood-washed  throng  in  heaven. 

LIEUTENANT  C.  M.  RANSOM. 

The  following  brief  sketch  of  Lieut.  Ransom  was  written  by  the 
author,  and  published  in  the  "  American  Messenger,"  New  York. 

CHESAPEAKE  HOSPITAL,  ) 
FORTRESS  MONROE,  VA.,  July  25,  1865.     j 

Rev.  A.  S.  Billingsley,  a  devoted  chaplain  of  this  hospital,  writes,  Lieut. 
C.  M.  Ransom,  98th  N.  Y.  Vol.,  was  wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  on  the 
6th,  and  brought  here  on  the  8th  of  July.  He  soon  became  very  restless, 
slept  but  little,  and  seemed  to  suffer  intensely.  I  visited  him  very  often, 
and  frequently  spoke  to  him  of  Jesus,  and  told  him  that  lie  is  a  precious, 
merciful,  all-compassionate  Saviour,  able  and  willing  to  save  even  to  the 
very  uttermost,  and  urged  him  to  come  unto  him. 

On  one  occasion  I  read  and  explained  to  him  the  interesting  story  of 
"blind  Bartimeus,"  Mark  x.,  and  kneeling  by  his  bedside  besought  God 
for  his  salvation,  and  prayed  that  that  poor  beggar's  prayer,  "  Jesus,  thou 
eon  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me\"  might  go  forth  from  his  heart.  As  I 
prayed,  he  cried,  "  Amen !  amen  !"  and  exclaimed,  "  Glory  to  God ;  glory  to 
God."  Prayer  being  over,  and  convinced  of  his  approaching  death,  ho 
said  to  me,  with  deep  emotion  and  tears,  "  Tell  my  mother,  brothers,  and 
tisters  that  I  died  for  my  country,  and  with  a  Christian  heart,  and  hope  they 
will  do  the  same."  Soon  after  he  oTFered  an  audible  prayer.  Let  us  thank 
God  for  such  a  victory.  How  glorious  such  a  death.  "  To  die  for  our 
country,  and  to  die  with  a  Christian  heart,"  is  the  chief  end  and  highest 
attainment  of  man. 


32  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Shortly  after  his  death  his  brother  came  to  see  him,  and  learning  he  waa 
dead  and  buried,  was  deeply  anxious  to  know  if  he  died  with  hope  in  the 
Lord.  When  I  told  him  of  his  dying  words  and  bright  prospects,  with  a 
/smitten  heart  he  exclaimed,  "  Thank  God !  thank  God !  "  and  burst  into 
tears,  weeping  like  a  child. 

Such  is  the  anxiety  of  one  brother  for  another,  and  such  the  strong  con- 
solation "to  die  with  a  Christian  heart"  affords.  Let  Christian  laborers, 
soldiers,  and  officers  "thank  God,  and  take  courage." 

CAPTAIN  FEE. 

Capt.  JOHN  A.  FEE,  Co.  I,  48th  N.  Y.  Vol.,  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  right  shoulder  and  arm,  June  30,  1864,  while 
defending  his  country's  honor,  and  brought  to  Chesapeake  Hos- 
pital shortly  after.  Brave,  frank,  and  free  in  conversation,  with 
a  generous  heart,  although  he  possessed  many  noble  traits,  yet 
lie  made  no  pretensions  to  piety.  His  wound  never  seemed  to 
do  well.  In  spite  of  all  the  surgeons  could  do,  it  would  occa- 
sionally bleed  profusely,  thus  rapidly  reducing  his  strength. 
But  being  lively  and  jovial,  he  bore  up  under  it  very  well.  Easy 
of  access,  we  had  no  trouble  in  approaching  him  on  the  subject 
of  religion,  and  frequently  we  had  lengthy  conversations  about 
the  "  one  thing  needful."  I  recollect  one  occasion  particularly, 
ou  the  12th  of  July,  when  I  read  to  him  the  fifty-third  chapter  of 
Isaiah,  pointing  him  to  the  Saviour  "  who  was  wounded  for  our 
transgressions,  and  with  whose  stripes  we  are  healed."  "  Jesus 
received  five  wounds  for  the  salvation  of  our  souls ;  you,  captain, 
have  received  only  one  for  our  country.  He  was  pierced  through 
his  hands  and  feet,  you  only  through  the  shoulder."  And  having 
explained  to  him  the  plan  of  salvation,  upholding  Christ  to  him 
in  all  his  offices  of  prophet,  priest,  and  king,  urging  upon  him 
the  necessity  of  regeneration,  and  the  importance  of  immediate 
repentance,  I  besought  him  by  every  motive  under  heaven  at 
once  to  fly  to  the  Saviour.  On  July  9,  his  wound  bled  again 
profusely,  and  made  another  heavy  draw  upon  his  vitality.  The 
surgeons  tied  the  artery,  but  erelong  it  broke  loose  again  ;  and, 
after  consultation,  the  doctors  decided  to  take  his  arm  off.  Laying 
him  on  a  stretcher,  he  was  carried  to  the  "  operators'  tent ;"  and 
feeling  deeply  interested  in  his  welfare,  I  went  along  to  witness 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

the  operation.  All  ready,  they  lay  him  upon  the  hard  table  ; 
and  conscious  of  the  danger  of  losing  his  life  (in  the  operation), 
1  spoke  to  him  about  his  future  prospects,  and  asked  him,  "  If 
you  should  die  in  the  operation,  captain,  do  you  feel  prepared  to 
go  ?  "  "  No,"  he  said ;  "/  don't  know  as  I  do"  Firm  and  com- 
posed, the  captain  exhibited  no  signs  of  fear.  They  gave  him 
chloroform;  and  as  it  began  to  take  effect,  he  began  to  say  bad 
words.  The  surgeons  hesitate ;  waiting,  it  was  said,  for  the  ad- 
vice of  the  surgeon  in  charge.  The  stupefaction  passes  off,  and 
I  began  to  persuade  him  to  repent  and  come  to  Jesus.  Endeav- 
oring to  impress  his  mind  with  the  importance  of  making  his 
peace  with  God  immediately,  and  to  encourage  him,  I  referred 
him  to  the  striking,  encouraging  case  of  the  thief  on  the  cross. 
I  told  him  "  man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity."  "  There 
hangs  the  dying  thief.  It  is  his  last  opportunity.  This  may  be 
your  last.  There  he  hangs  upon  the  cross  —  here  you  lie  upon 
the  fatal  amputation-table.  There  he  went  a  hardened  sinner  — 
here  you  have  come  an  open  swearer.  He  died  a  malefactor  for 
his  crime.  You  may  soon  die  a  martyr  for  your  country.  With 
him  it  was  the  last  extremity ;  with  you  this  is  probably  the  last 
opportunity.  Oh,  then,  trifle  no  longer  with  your  soul's  salva- 
tion. There  he  hangs,  a  thief  and  a  robber  —  here  you  lie,  a 
patriot  soldier.  A  regular  Jew,  he  had  been  brought  up  to  hate 
and  despise  the  Saviour.  You  have  been  brought  up  to  love  and 
serve  him.  How  thrilling  the  scene!  There  he  hangs  right 
beside  the  bleeding  Saviour.  Hark !  do  you  hear  that  voice  ? 
It  is  the  voice  .of  prayer, —  the  dying  thief  praying  to  the  dying 
Saviour.  'Jesus,  Lord,  remember  me  \vhen  thou  comest  into 
thy  kingdom.'  Oh,  what  a  prayer  was  that !  It  is  not  only 
short,  direct,  earnest,  comprehensive,  but  it  was  a  prayer  of  won- 
derful faith  and  power.  Look  at  the  circumstances,  how  dark 
and  unfavorable  to  elicit  faith  and  secure  confidence !  There  hangs 
the  Saviour,  nailed  to  the  cross,  dying  as  a  malefactor  ;  yet  with 
divine  light  flashed  upon  the  thief's  soul,  his  faith  penetrates  the 
dark  cloud,  and  recognizes  the  expiring  Redeemer  as  'Jesus, 
Lord,'  and  flies  to  him  for  salvation.  How  critical  the  mo- 
ment !  It  is  the  crisis  of  his  soul.  It  is  salvation  now,  or  never. 
3 


34  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

It  was  his  last  prayer.  And  was  it  heard  ?  Did  it  prevail  ?  Did 
Jesus  remember  him  ?  He  did,  and  replied,  ( To-day  shalt  thou 
be  with  me  in  paradise/  Yes,  that  very  day,  with  his  soul 
washed  in  Christ's  blood,  he  went  home  to  glory,  translated  from 
the  cross  to  the  throne.  Oh,  then,  my  dear  captain,  be  encour- 
aged. Look  to  Jesus.  Look  and  live,  believe  and  be  saved. 
Pray  like  the  publican,  'God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.' 
Pray  like  sinking  Peter,  ( Lord,  save  me.'  Pray  like  the  dying 
thief,  '  Jesus,  Lord,  remember  me/  and  I  can  assure  you,  your 
prayer  will  be  heard,  your  sins  pardoned,  and  your  soul  saved. 

"  Doubtless  it  will  soon  be  with  you,  as  it  was  with  that  dying 
thief,  your  very  last  chance.  Now  is  the  crisis  of  your  soul.  It  is 
salvation  now,  or  never ;  it  is  believe  and  be  saved  now,  or  refuse 
and  be  lost  forever ;  it  will  soon  be  salvation  or  damnation  !  Now 
is  the  accepted  time ;  oh,  then,  let  this  be  the  day  of  your  salvation  ! 
Just  think,  captain,  of  the  Saviour's  love  in  suffering  and  dying 
to  save  us,  and  of  his  ability  and  willingness  to  save  you ;  think, 
too,  how  lamentable  it  will  be  to  die  for  your  country  and  lose 
your  own  soul !  Think  of  the  torments  of  hell ;  of  the  lashings 
of  a  guilty  conscience ;  of  the  gnawings  of  the  undying  worm ; 
of  Hhe  everlasting  fire;'  of  the  weeping,  wailing,  and  gnashing 
of  teeth,  you  will  soon  bring  upon  yourself,  unless  you  soon  repent ! 
Then  let  these  things  alarm  you ;  let  the  love  of  Christ  constrain 
you,  and  his  spirit  woo  you.  Gaze  upon  the  compassionate  Saviour 
lying  in  a  manger.  View  him  agonizing  in  Gethsemane ;  suffer- 
ing, groaning,  bleeding,  dying  upon  Calvary,  crying  unto  you, 
'  Give  me  thy  heart ! '  and  let  the  cry  go  forth  from  your  heart, 
'Here,  Lord,  I  give  myself  away  ! '  "  And  perceiving  his  heart 
beginning  to  yield,  I  asked  him,  "  If  he  had  not  been  a  great 
sinner?  "  He  replied,  "  Yes ;"  and  feeling  a  sense  of  his  sins,  and 
realizing  his  need  of  a  Saviour,  he  said,  "  Chaplain,  will  you 
please  pray  for  me  ?"  and  then,  while  he  lay  on  the  hard  board, 
surrounded  with  doctors  and  surgeons,  I  knelt  down  on  the 
ground :  I  prayed,  and  besought  God,  for  Jesus'  sake,  to  have 
mercy  on  him.  Then  urging  him  still  further  to  surrender  him- 
self to  the  great  Captain  of  our  salvation,  and  beseeching  him 
to  let  go  of  everything  else,  and  to  step  right  out  upon  the  pro- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  35 

mises  of  God,  and  throw  himself  into  the  arms  of  Jesus,  we  left 
him.  They  cut  off  his  arm,  and  carried  him  back  to  his  ward. 
At  my  next  call,  I  said  to  him,  "  Do  you  feel  sorry  for  your 
sins,  captain  ?  "  "  Yes,"  he  replied.  "  Seek  ye  the  Lord  while 
he  may  be  found.  O  captain,  just  surrender  yourself  at  once, 
and  come  to  Jesus.  Now  is  your  best  time.  Now  is  God's  time. 
Delay  is  dangerous.  It  is  glorious  to  die  for  your  country ;  but 
it  is  lamentable  to  die,  and  be  lost.  Go  to  Calvary ;  see  how 
Jesus  suffered,  bled,  and  died  that  you  might  live !  And  can 
you,  will  you  refuse  him  ?  May  God  bless  you,  captain."  He 
said,  "  He  loved  the  Saviour,  and  that  he  was  precious  to  him." 
He  grew  pale  and  weak,  and  his  attendant  brother  sent  for  me 
just  as  he  was  dying,  July  15,  1864;  but  it  was  then  too  late, 
even  to  pray  for  him  again.  We  trust  he  went  happy. 

A  ROLLING  CHAPLAIN. 

The  son  of  Dr.  Eastman,  Secretary  of  the  American  Tract 
Society,  was  a  chaplain.  His  horse,  plunging  during  a  battle, 
struck  him  on  the  knee-pan.  His  leg  swelled  and  stiffened  until 
the  pain  became  almost  unendurable.  When  he  could  no  longer 
stand,  he  gave  his  horse  up  to  a  servant,  and  had  himself  to  lie 
on  the  ground.  The  pain  was  intense.  Darkness  settled  over 
him.  He  had  to  take  a  wounded  soldier's  place  alone  that  night. 
As  he  lay  on  his  back,  suffering  and  thinking,  he  heard  a  voice : 
"  0  my  God  !  "  He  thought,  can  any  body  be  swearing  in  such 
a  place  as  this !  He  listened  again,  and  a  prayer  began.  It 
was  a  wounded  soldier  praying.  How  can  I  get  at  him?  was  his 
first  impulse.  He  tried  to  draw  up  his  stiffened  limb,  but  he 
could  not  rise.  Then  he  grasped  a  sapling,  drew  up  his  well 
foot,  and  tried  to  lift  the  other  up  and  extend  it  without  bending, 
that  he  might  walk ;  but  he  fell  back,  in  the  effort,  with  a  heavy 
fall,  that  jarred  through  him  like  a  stab !  He  then  thought, 
"  I  CAN  ROLL."  And  over  and  over,  in  pain,  he  rolled  in  blood 
and  over  dead  bodies,  until  he  fell  against  the  dying  man,  and 
there  he  preached  Christ,  and  prayed.  At  length  one  of  the  line- 
officers  came  up,  and  said,  "Where  is  the  chaplain  ?  Where  JF 


36  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR 

the  chaplain  ?  One  of  the  staff-officers  is  dying."  "  Here  he  is ! 
here  he  is ! "  cried  out  the  suffering  hero.  "  Well,  such  an  officer 
is  dying ;  can't  you  come  out  and  see  him  ?  "  "I  cannot  move ; 
I  have  just  rolled  up  alongside  of  this  dying  man  to  talk  to 
him."  "  If  I  detail  two  men  to  carry  you,  may  they  do  it  ?  " 
"  Yes."  They  took  him  gently  up,  and  carried  him.  And  that 
live-long  night  those  two  men  rode  him  over  the  battle-field,  and 
laid  him  down,  in  blood,  beside  bleeding,  dying  men ;  and  he 
preached  Christ  to  them,  and  prayed.  He  had  to  look  up  then, 
brethren ;  he  could  look  no  other  way  from  that  position,  not 
even  into  the  face  of  the  dying ;  and  with  God's  stars  shining 
down  on  him,  and  heaven  bending  over  him,  he  had  to  preach 
Christ,  and  pray  ! 

"  I  can  do  all  things,  and  can  bear 
All  sufferings,  if  my  Lord  be  there ; 
And  pleasure  mingles  with  my  p^ins, 
While  his  right  hand  my  head  sustains." 

Extract. 


"YOU  SAVED  MY  LIFE!" 

It  was  on  a  hot,  sultry  night,  about  twelve  o'clock,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1864,  when  all  was  calm  and  quiet,  that  I  heard  a  quick 
rap  at  the  door  of  my  quarters.  "  Who 's  there  ?  "  I  inquired, 
hastily.  "  The  nurse  from  room  number  eleven,  first  ward  ! " 
replied  the  nocturnal  visitor.  "  What  do  you  want  ?  "  "  Lieut. 
D.  is  very  bad,  and  wants  you  to  come  up  and  see  him  —  right 
quick."  Immediately  I  got  up,  put  on  my  clothes,  and  hurrying 
up  the  long,  winding  stairs,  by  the  lamps  dimly  burning,  made 
my  way  to  his  lofty  apartment,  and  found  him  lying  on  his  bed 
in  the  sixth  story  of  the  hospital.  On  approaching  his  bed,  he 
reached  out  his  hand,  and  giving  each  other  a  warm,  tender 
shake,  I  said,  "  What 's  the  matter,  lieutenant  ?  "  "  O  chaplain, 
I  feel  most  awful.  I  have  long  been  a  professor  of  religion, 
and  have  enjoyed  much  comfort  in  it ;  but  now  I  feel  that  I  have 
lost  it  all.  I  am  afraid  I  am  going  to  die,  and  be  lost.  Oh, 
what  shall  I  do  ? "  "  Look  to  Jesus,  look  to  Jesus,  He  is  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  37 

great  Physician,  able,  willing,  and  mighty  to  save  and  comfort ! 
And  he  is  right  here  —  here  in  this  room,  in  all  his  loveliness, 
tenderness,  and  compassion,  waiting  to  dispel  your  doubts  and 
fears,  and  restore  unto  you  the  joys  of  his  salvation.  Are  you  in 
darkness  ?  He  is  light.  Are  you  weak  ?  He  is  strength.  Are 
you  guilty  ?  His  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin.  Are  you  afraid 
you  '11  be  lost  ?  He  is  '  mighty  to  save.'  Are  you  in  trouble  ? 
He  says,  '  Be  of  good  cheer.'  Then,  'fear  not ;'  don't  be  dis- 
couraged ;  there  is  no  danger  of  your  going  to  die  now,  and  be 
lost.  God's  promises  run  parallel  with  a  man's  life.  '  Cast  thy 
burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  will  sustain  thee.'  'Only  believe,' 
and  your  doubts  and  fears  will  leave  you.  Jesus  says,  '  My  grace 
is  sufficient  for  thee.'.  . .  The  temptations  of  army  life  have,  per- 
haps, led  you  away  from  the  Saviour,  and  God  has,  in  mercy, 
thrown  you  into  the  furnace  of  affliction,  to  whip  and  bring  you 
back.  God  is,  no  doubt,  only  trying  your  faith,  and  he  says, 
'  Think  it  not  strange  concerning  the  fiery  trial  that  is  to  try  you/ 
Troubles  and  trials  don't  come  by  chance ;  no,  they  are  sent  in 
infinite  wisdom,  love,  and  mercy  for  your  good ;  and  if  through 
their  sanctified  use  you  are  brought  nearer  to  God,  you  ought  to 
be  thankful  for  them.  Basil's  prayer  was,  '  Saviour,  give  me 
any  cross  that  may  bring  me  into  subjection  to  thy  cross.'  Then 
be  patient :  '  All  things  work  together  for  good.'  Job  says, 
'  Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him.'  Oh,  then,  fly  to 
Jesus  —  throw  yourself  right  into  his  arms,  and  cry,  like  sinking 
Peter,  'Lord,  save  me,'  and  God  will  lift  you  out  of  this  '  doubt- 
ing castle.'  If  the  dying  thief,  when  hanging  upon  the  cross, 
trusted  a  dying  Saviour  amidst  all  the  darkness,  horror,  and 
gloom  of  the  crucifixion,  surely  you  can  trust  him  here  in  the 
hospital.  Besides  these  encouraging  facts,  it  is  very  common  for 
Christians  at  times  to  become  cast  down,  and  get  into  a  state  of 
soul  dejection.  Job,  with  all  his  patience,  piety,  and  assurance, 
on  one  occasion  so  lost  his  sense  of  God's  presence,  that  he  ex- 
claimed,'Oh,  that  I  knew  where  I  mind  find  him!'  David, 
though  we  find  him,  at  times,  soaring  aloft  and  basking  in  the 
blessed  enjoyment  of  full  assurance,  yet,  again,  we  find  him  cast 
down,  watering  his  couch  with  tears,  earnestly  exclaiming,  'Why 


38  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul  ?  Why  art  thou  disquieted  within 
me  ?  '  So  you  need  not  be  discouraged,  if,  amidst  all  the  whirl- 
pools of  temptation  incident  to  a  soldier's  life,  you  do  sometimes 
get  into  the  fog,  and  wander  away  into  the  Slough  of  Despond. 
Besides,  your  trouble  and  distress  of  mind  may  arise  from  the 
disease  of  your  body." 

Thus,  sorely  troubled,  and  being  very  anxious  to  have  his 
doubts  and  fears  removed,  he  began  to  inquire  about  the  nature 
and  evidences  of  love  to  the  Saviour.  Answering  his  inquiries 
as  well  as  I  could,  and  recounting  to  him  some  of  the  principal 
marks  of  the  gracious  state,  and  endeavoring  to  console  him, 
after  reading  to  him  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  John,  and  praying 
that  God  would  dispel  his  dark  clouds,  and  pour  into  his  soul  the 
consolations  of  his  Spirit,  his  doubts  and  fears  began  to  leave 
him.  After  pointing  him  again  to  the  Saviour,  and  upholding 
him  in  all  his  offices  and  attractiveness,  drawn  from  the  melting 
scenes  of  Gethsemane  and  Calvary,  I  bid  him  a  tender  farewell 
for  the  night.  Hastening  up  early  next  morning,  I  found  him 
all  bright  and  clear.  The  lowering  cloud  had  passed  away,  and, 
enjoying  the  bright  rays  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  he  was 
very  gratefully  rejoicing  in  his  happy  deliverance.  I  visited 
him  frequently  afterward,  and  always  found  his  heart  overflow- 
ing with  gratitude  and  thanksgiving.  He  soon  got  well,  and 
went  back  to  his  regiment;  served  his  time  out,  and  went  home. 
I  labored  on  in  the  hospital  long  after  Lee's  surrender:  the 
rebellion  was  quelled,  the  slave  was  freed,  and  the  country 
saved ;  but  of  the  lieutenant  I  heard  nothing  more  until  the 
fall  of  1868,  when  he  saw  and  recognized  me  in  the  church  while 
attending  the  Presbyterian  Synod  in  Ohio.  Finding  out  my 
lodging-place,  he  came  round  next  morning  to  see  me ;  and  on 
entering  my  room,  as  we  shook  hands,  he  said,  with  a  good  deal 
of  warmth,  "Do  you  know  mef  "  Looking  at  him  a  moment — 
"No;  I  guess  not,"  I  replied.  And  says  he,  "You  SAVED 
MY  LIFE!"  "I  saved  your  life?"  greatly  surprised.  "Yes, 
I  believe  you  did."  "  When  and  where  ? "  "  In  Chesapeake 

Hospital."    "  Who  are  you  ?  "    "  Lieut.  D ,  143d  Ohio  Vol. 

Co.  E.     Don't  you  remember  coming  up  late,  one  night,  to  see 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  39 

a  sick  man  in  room  number  eleven,  first  ward  ?  "  "  Yes  ;  I  re- 
member it  very  well."  "I  am  the  man/'  and  then,  with  joy,  I 
recognized  him  at  once.  It  was  a  very  happy  re-union.  How 
glad  we  were  to  see  one  another  again !  He  was  unspeakably 
thankful  for  what  I  had  done  for  him,  and  I  was  very  glad  to 
learn  that  I  had  been  the  means  of  relieving  him  and  saving  his 
life.  I  had  not  known  it  until  now. 

At  his  kind  request,  with  great  pleasure  I  went  out  and  spent 

a  night  with  him  and  his  family,  near  C ;  and,  as  I  reached 

the  house,  found  his  noble  wife  waiting  for  me  at  the  door.  As 
I  approached  her,  she  gave  me  a  very  warm  shake  of  the  hand, 
saying,  *'  You  are  veiy  dear  to  me,  because  I  believe  you  saved 
the  life  of  my  husband."  Thanking  her  heartily  for  her  com- 
pliments and  kind  reception,  we  went  in,  and  found  them  living 
very  comfortably  with  his  parents.  Instead  of  dying,  and  being 
lost  in  the  hospital,  as  he  feared  he  would  be  that  awful  night, 

Mr.  D still  lives,  a  highly  -  respected,  consistent  Christian 

gentleman. 

Reader,  let  this  striking  case  encourage  you  to  labor  on,  and 
be  faithful,  even  though  you  do  not  see  the  fruits.  It  is  not 
given  us  always  to  know  what  good  we  are  doing.  The  blessing 
is  of  God.  It  is  man's  duty  to  labor ;  it  is  God's  prerogative 
to  bless. 

A  DYING  SOLDIER'S   LETTER. 

We  copy  the  following  from  a  late  number  of  the  "  Detroit 
Free  Press:" 

Many  of  the  friends  and  acquaintances  of  the  late  Col.  Brodhead  have 
expressed  a  great  desire  to  see  his  last  letter, — the  one  which,  it  is  generally 
known,  he  wrote  to  his  wife  from  the  fatal  battle-field.  To  gratify  this 
desire,  we  have  requested,  and  have  been  able  to  obtain,  a  copy  of  the  let- 
ter, and  to  publish  it,  with  the  restriction,  however,  that  the  names  referred 
to  in  it  should  not  be  mentioned : 

"  MY  DEAREST  WIFE  :  —  I  write  to  you  mortally  wounded  from  the 
battle-field.  We  are  again  defeated,  and  ere  this  reaches  you  your  chil- 
dren will  be  fatherless. 


40  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"  Before  I  die,  let  me  implore  that,  in  some  way,  it  may  be  stated  that 

Gen.  • has  been  outwitted,  and  that is  a  traitor.     Had  they  done 

their  duty  as  I  did  mine,  and  had  led  as  I  led,  the  dear  old  flag  had  waved 
in  triumph. 

"  I  wrote  to  you  yesterday  morning:  To-day  is  Sunday,  and  to-day  I 
•ink  to  the  green  couch  of  our  final  rest. 

"I  have  fought  well,  my  darling;  and  I  was  shot  in  the  endeavor  to  rally 
our  broken  battalions.  I  could  have  escaped ;  but  I  would  not  till  all  hope 
was  gone,  and  was  shot  —  about  the  only  one  of  our  forces  left  on  the  field. 
Our  cause  is  just,  and  our  generals,  not  the  enemy's,  have  defeated  us.  In 
God's  good  time  he  will  give  us  victory. 

"  And  now  good-by,  wife  and  children.  Bring  them  up,  I  know  you 
will,  in  the  fear  of  Gad  and  love  for  the  Saviour.  But  for  you  and  the 
dear  ones  dependent,  I  should  die  happy.  I  know  the  blow  will  fall  with 
crushing  weight  on  you.  Trust  in  Him  who  gave  manna  in  the  wilderness. 

"  Dr.  Nash  is  with  me.  It  is  now  after  midnight,  and  I  have  spent  most 
of  the  night  in  sending  messages  to  you. 

"  Two  bullets  have  gone  through  my  chest,  and  directly  through  the 
lungs.  I  suffer  but  little  now,  but  at  first  the  pain  was  acute.  I  have  won 
the  soldier's  name,  and  am  ready  to  meet  now,  as  I  must,  the  soldier's  fate. 
I  hope  that  from  heaven  I  may  see  the  glorious  old  flag  wave  again  over 
the  undivided  Union  I  have  loved  so  well. 

"  Farewell,  wife  and  babes,  and  friends !    We  shall  meet  again. 
"Your  loving 

"  THOKNTON." 

LIEUTENANT   FRANK  L.  MERRILL. 

This  noble  officer  of  the  3d  Kegiment  N.  H.  Vol.,  Co.  H, 
was  brought  into  Chesapeake  Hospital,  July  2,  1864,  with  his 
left  leg  amputated  below  the  knee.  Mild  and  affable  in  his 
manners,  he  was  always  an  agreeable  patient  to  wait  on.  Frank 
and  free  in  conversation,  we  found  no  difficulty  in  approaching 
him  on  any  subject.  Touching  his  religious  character,  he  said 
he  had  been  brought  up  by  Baptist  parents;  and  although  not 
a  professor  of  religion  himself,  he  was  moral,  and  had  often  been 
deeply  impressed  with  religious  things,  yet,  he  said,  "  I  am  satis- 
fied I  am  not  a  Christian."  Still  he  was  deeply  concerned  about 
his  salvation,  and,  at  his  request,  I  read  and  prayed  with  him 
very  frequently ;  sometimes  three  or  four  times  a  day.  He 
seemed  to  hunger  and  thirst  for  salvation.  And  in  the  plainest 
manner  I  pointed  him  to  Christ,  explaining  to  him  the  simplicity 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  41 

of  faith,  urging  him  to  prayer,  and  by  the  mercies  of  God  be- 
sought him  to  repent,  and  come  to  Jesus.  By  the  thrilling  and 
encouraging  example  of  the  thief  on  the  cross,  I  endeavored  to 
impress  upon  his  mind  the  willingness  and  ability  of  the  Saviour 
to  save  even  to  the  uttermost;  beseeching  him,  Peter-like,  to 
launch  forth  and  step  right  out  upon  the  promises  of  God,  and 
throw  himself  into  the  arms  of  the  compassionate  Saviour,  and 
be  saved. 

Time  fled,  the  heat  became  more  intense,  his  wound  grew 
worse,  mild  lockjaw  set  in,  his  appetite  began  to  fail,  and  frail 
nature  began  to  give  way.  At  our  next  call,  with  his  noble 
countenance  lit  up  with  smiles,  we  found  him  indulging  a  hope ; 
and  with  a  spirit  of  meek  submission,  he  said,  "  I  feel  perfectly 
resigned  and  happy  lying  here.  I  can  say  from  the  heart,  not 
my  will,  but  thine,  O  God,  be  done,  in  my  case."  "  I  suppose 
that  rebel  shot  through  your  leg  has,  by  grace,  knocked  the  spirit 
of  rebellion  out  of  your  heart,  and  brought  you  in  submission 
to  God's  will.  Oh,  how  rich  the  blessing  to  be  resigned  ! " 
Recently  I  heard  a  wounded  soldier  say,  "  I  thank  God  for  my 
wound ;  it  has  brought  me  to  the  point."  At  times  the  lieutenant 
suffered  very  severely,  yet  he  never  murmured. 

Two  days  before  his  departure,  we  warned  him  of  his  danger 
and  probably  approaching  dissolution ;  yet  without  an  emotion  of 
fear,  and  resigned  to  God's  will,  he  seemed  to  say,  in  the  language 
of  old  Eli,  "  It  is  the  Lord ;  let  him  do  as  seemeth  him  good." 
Entertaining  a  hope  that  he  had  passed  from  death  unto  life,  and 
giving  bright  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart,  a  few  days  before 
his  death,  at  his  own  request,  after  due  examination,  we  baptized 
him  in  the  name  of  the  triune  Jehovah.  How  solemn  the 
scene !  There  lies  the  brave  hero,  away  up  in  the  fifth  story  of 
the  massive  building,  cheered  and  soothed  by  the  warm-hearted 
kindness  of  Mrs.  Dully,  principal  matron  of  the  hospital.  It 
was  about  midnight  when  we  applied  the  outward  emblem  of 
the  washing  of  regeneration.  And  having  again  invoked  the 
blessing  of  God  to  accompany  the  administration  of  the  ordi- 
nance, we  gave  him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  his  heart 
seemed  to  throb  with  thanksgiving  to  God  and  gratitude  to  man. 


42  CHRISTIANITY    IX    THE    WAR. 

Resigned  to  his  fate,  he  had  no  fear  of  death.  And  fond  of  the 
word  of  God  and  prayer,  I  still  read  and  prayed,  two  or  three 
times  a  day,  with  him  until  the  last.  It  is  now  July  13,  near 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  he  is  still  failing.  His  last 
sands  are  running,  and  yet  how  sensible  and  composed.  Having 
given  me  some  ringlets  and' precious  mementos  to  send  home  to 
his  friends,  as  his  last  dying  request,  he  said,  "  Give  my  dying 
love  to  my  father,  mother,  wife,  brothers,  and  sisters."  He  stood 
the  conflict  of  life  till  near  twelve  the  next  evening,  when  the 
silver  cord  was  broken,  and  his  noble  spirit  took  its  flight,  we 
trust,  to  the  realms  of  endless  bliss.  His  mortal  remains  were 
sent  home  in  a  few  days. 

The  following  letter  from  Chaplain  James  Marshall,  U.S.A., 
will  be  read  with  much  interest.  This  captain  died  in  Chesa- 
peake Hospital. 

THE  DYING  CAPTAIN. 

When  Capt.  P was  brought  to  the  hospital,  he  said  that 

slight  wound  through  his  wrist  could  not  kill  him.  The  bones  were 
fractured,  and  his  whole  hand  was  badly  inflamed.  The  surgeon 
was  anxious  to  amputate,  as  soon  it  would  be  impossible  to  cut  off 
the  disease,  when  the  whole  system  would  become  diseased  by  ab- 
sorbing the  poison.  The  captain  refused  to  have  his  hand  am- 
putated, as  he  could  not  well  support  a  wife  and  a  family  of  small 
children  with  only  one  hand.  His  heart  was  blessed  with  good 
natural  affections,  but  piety  did  not  ennoble  them.  They  were  the 
beautiful  flowers  springing  up  amid  the  most  noxious  weeds  around 
a  den  of  vipers.  His  heart  grew  hard  as  his  hand  grew  worse.  His 
frame  grew  weak ;  amputation  now  would  only  hasten  death,  if  not 
cause  it  at  once.  The  surgeon  might  cut  off  the  wrist,  but  he  could 
not  the  disease.  One  Sabbath  morning,  while  in  his  room,  he  told 
me  he  might  not  live,  and  evinced  great  anxiety  about  sending  home 
at  once  his  effects.  He  wanted  to  get  his  pay,  to  settle  up  with  the 
Government,  and  then  send  money  and  effects  to  his  wife.  When 
earthly  affairs  were  properly  arranged,  I  very  plainly  referred  to 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  43 

the  necessity  of  preparing  to  settle  his  account  with  his  God,  and 
asked  him  how  he  felt  in  regard  to  death,  and  his  own  per- 
sonal preparation  for  such  an  event.  Lying  with  his  right  side 
to  the  room,  he  cast  his  eyes  upon  the  wall,  shook  his  head,  his 
face  looking  despair,  and  said,  "  I  don't  know.  Pretty  hard 
case."  This  very  remark  was  a  rebuke  to  a  life  of  sin  and  neg- 
lect to  prepare  for  death  while  in  health.  I  spoke  freely  to 
him  of  Christ  as  the  satisfier  of  divine  justice,  as  the  atoner  for 
sin,  as  the  mediator  between  God  and  man,  and  as  the  present 
intercessor  at  the  court  of  Heaven  for  all  sinners  who  would 
cheerfully  and  willingly  trust  in  the  great  work  he  had  done, 
and  was  then  doing  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  to  save  the  most  guilty 
among  men.  He  was  most  solemnly  attentive.  I  did  not  pray 
with  him  ;  but  the  story  of  the  Cross  was  fixed  in  his  mind.  He 
was  silent  and  thoughtful,  and  his  manner  spoke  more  than 
words.  As  I  left  him  for  other  sick  beds,  whose  occupants  I 
wanted  a  word  with  before  the  religious  services  of  the  day,  I 
heard  his  voice  saying,  "  Come  again  soon :  I  can't  talk ;  but  I 
love  to  hear  you  talk." 

About  ten  o'clock  at  night  he  sent  for  me.  I  was  weary  and 
worn ;  had  visited  and  prayed  with  a  number  of  wounded  men 
that  day,  four  of  whom  died  within  a  month ;  had  preached  at 
10  A.  M.  ;  held  a  Bible-class  for  soldiers  at  2  p.  M.,  and  a  Sun- 
day-school for  colored  servants  of  these  officers  at  3  J  P.  M.  ;  had 
preached  at  4£  p.  M.  in  the  military  prison  to  about  five  hundred 
rebel  refugees,  blockade-runners,  Union  deserters,  etc.,  and  had 
conducted  a  most  interesting  meeting  of  soldiers  for  prayer  and 
conference  in  the  evening.  But  I  went  at  once  to  his  room. 
Just  as  soon  as  I  entered,  he  told  the  story  of  preparing  his 
effects  that  day  to  send  to  his  family.  I  satisfied  him  that  his 
pay  could  be  drawn  on  the  morrow,  and  all  sent  home  with  little 
trouble  and  expense.  When  satisfied  on  these  things,  I  inquired 
how  he  had  spent  the  day,  and  how  he  felt  after  our  conversation 
in  the  morning.  He  replied,  "I  feel  very  serious  —  very  serious 
indeed." 

"  You  want  to  be  a  Christian,  a  friend  of  Christ,  do  you, 
captain  ?  " 


44  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"  I  do.    I  believe  there  is  a  reality  in  religion,  and  I  want  it." 

I  then  prayed  with  him,  after  trying  to  prepare  his  mind  to 
come  to  Christ.  During  prayer,  he  would  exclaim,  "  God  grant 
it!"  "Come,  Jesus;  come  just  now!"  He  was  failing  — 
growing  weaker.  I  repeated  the  promises,  and  pointed  out  the 
significance  of  God's  providences,  and  Christ's  mercy ;  his  will- 
ingness to  pardon  and  give  peace,  if  he  were  only  willing  to 
give  up  family,  house,  friends,  the  world,  all  for  Christ's  sake ; 
let  him  cast  himself  a  helpless  sinner  upon  the  merits  of  Christ's 
work  :  believe  in  what  he  had  done  for  sinners. 

"But  I  have  been,"  he  said,  "such  a  vile,  guilty  man!" 
After  showing  him  that  the  fact  that  he  felt  so  convicted  of  his 
sin  was  cause  for  gratitude,  —  for  it  was  evidence  God's  Spirit 
was  working  in  his  heart, —  I  removed  quietly  to  one  side,  as  he 
was  tired  and  exhausted,  and  I  wanted  him  to  sleep.  But  soon 
he  seemed  in  silent  prayer,  and  whispering?  in  most  plaintive, 
beseeching  breath,  "  O  Jesus,  just  now !  O  Jesus,  just  now ! 
Come,  O  Jesus,  bless  my  soul  just  now!"  Then  he  spoke  out, 
apparently  to  himself,  "  I  can't  understand ;  I  can't  understand." 
Arousing  up,  I  asked  him  what  it  was  he  could  not  understand. 
"Oh,  I  can't  understand  how  to  get  religion."  Here  man's 
weakness  is  so  plain,  I  felt  like  leaving  the  bedside  in  despair. 
But  Christ  says,  My  grace  is  sufficient.  Repeating  those  blessed 
promises,  and  urging  him  to  trust  his  Saviour  as  a  little  child 
trusts  his  parents,  he  said/  "  Oh,  yes ;  I  am  willing  to  trust  the 
Saviour.  I  have  the  disposition,  but  I  haven't  the  ability  to 
come  to  Christ.  If  I  could  only  get  a  foothold — something  to 
stand  on." 

How  true  that  experience.  How  childlike  had  become  that 
rough,  courageous,  brave,  profane,  proud  man!  Only  divine 
grace  can  make  such  changes.  After  talking  in  quieting,  cheer- 
ing, comforting  words,  I  sat  one  side  to  let  him  go  to  sleep.  Soon 
he  was  in  prayer  again.  His  hand  he  waved  over  his  face  in 
form  of  cheering,  whispering,  "  Hurrah  for  Jesus !  hurrah  for 
Jesus !  Oh,  come,  just  now ! "  Then  he  broke  out  in  a  strong 
voice,  "  Oh,  glory,  glory,  hallelujah ! "  and  sang,  in  a  most  beau- 
tiful strain, 

"  Jesus,  my  all,  to  heaven  is  gone,"  etc. 


CHRISTIANITY    IX    THE    WAR.  45 

He  was  a  changed  man.  He  sang  "  The  Star  of  Bethlehem," 
and  other  most  beautiful  hymns,  showing  he  had  had  a  religious 
training.  The  nurse  had  been  giving  him  water  at  times,  and 
observing  most  intently  his  experiences.  After  singing  "The 
Star  of  Bethlehem,"  he  said,  "  Oh,  I  feel  that  I  had  a  most  joy- 
ful night."  He  kept  talking,  and  praying,  and  singing  for  some 
time.  At  one  time  he  would  grieve  for  his  sins.  "  Oh,  that  I 
had  served  the  Lord  in  the  days  of  my  youth."  Again :  "  I 
wish  I  was  able  to  grasp  the  very  essence  of  religion."  The  wife 
of  another  wounded  officer  in  an  adjoining  room  had  come  in  to 
see  him,  and,  while  getting  him  some  ice-water,  he  asked  for 

some.     I   told  him  Mrs.  J was  getting  some.     "Is  she? 

God  bless  her !  I  came  here  a  perfect  stranger,  and  how  many 
have  been  my  friends.  Everybody  has  been  so  kind  to  me. 
How  thankful  I  am.  It  shows  there  is  a  blessed  reality  in  reli- 
gion. How  I  have  been  prayed  for!  The  church,  the  con- 
gregation, my  father  and  mother,  and  friends,  God  bless  them ! 
how  they  have  all  prayed  for  me.  But  what  an  ungrateful, 
wicked  sinner  I  have  been — a  poor,  despised  sinner."  Then  he 
broke  out  into  prayer,  "  O  Jesus,  save  me !  O  Jesus,  save  me 
just  now! "  He  spoke  of  his  family  with  such  deep  interest, — 
of  his  little  children ;  related  some  anecdotes  of  them ;  wished  he 
could  see  them  once  more.  When  telling  him  that  a  Christian 
character  was  the  richest  legacy  he  could  leave  them,  "  I  know 
it,"  said  he.  "  I  believe  it;  oh,  yes.  I  wish  I  could  have  them 
here  to-night,  arranged  along  before  me ;  how  I  would  like  to 
talk  to  them  —  give  them  good  advice ;  but  God  wills  it  other- 
wise." I  told  him  freely  that  life's  hardest  lesson,  which  he  was 
learning  by  trial,  was  to  submit  to  God's  holy  will.  He  knows 
best.  We  should  be  thankful  for  this  world,  where,  through 
the  Holy  Spirit,  we  can  prepare  and  fit  ourselves  to  meet  our 
Saviour  and  our  earthly  relatives  and  friends  in  another  and  bet- 
ter world.  Then,  his  face  glowing,  he  sang  out  — 

"  Cheer  me  onward, 
Cheer  me  onward, 
Cheer  me  onward, 
Just  now  ! " 


46  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Becoming  reconciled  and  quieted,  he  passed  into  a  rest  which 
seemed  the  peace  of  heaven.  Thus  passed  the  night  until  three 
o'clock  A.M.,  when  I  left  him  asleep. 

He  lived  eight  days  from  that  time  in  which  God  converted 
his  soul.  Nothing  but  grace  on  the  heart,  teaching  the  joys  of 
heaven  and  the  hope  of  glory  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord, 
makes  such  changes  in  these  dying  men.  He  was  all  this  time 
mild,  cheerful,  gentle,  submissive,  resigned  to  God's  will ;  and 
when  he  died,  it  seemed  as  though  he  was  gazing  upon  the  very 
splendors  of  the  eternal  throne,  so  clear  and  implicit  his  trust  in 
the  mercy  and  power  of  the  Lord  and  Saviour. 


CHAPTER  III. 

SKETCHES   OF   SOLDIERS. 

"  WHEN  I  GO  INTO  BATTLE,  I  PUT  JESUS  IN  FRONT  "  —  A  HERO  OP 
PLYMOUTH:  "I  WILL  FALL  EIGHT  INTO  His  ARMS"  — " JESUS  is 
PRECIOUS  TO  ME  Now"  —  "WHY  DID  You  CALL  ME  BACK?"  — "I 
DON'T  FEAR  NOTHIN'  AT  ALL"  —  "THE  WORLD  is  HOLLOW  AND 
EMPTY "  —  "I  CAME  OUT  TO  CONQUER  OR  DIE "  " THEY  LEFT  ME 
FOR  DEAD"  —  "Gooo-BY,  OLD  ARM!"  —  "Pur  THE  BRIGHT  SIDE 

OUT  TO   MOTFIER,"  HE  SAID,  AS  HE   DIED  —  "  OH,  IF  I  ONLY  COULD  !" 

—  "I  AM  HAPPY,  DAY  AND   NIGHT"  —  VALUE  OF  THE  UNION: 
"  PRAY,  LABOR,  FIGHT  FOR  IT." 

"WHEN   I   GO  INTO   BATTLE,  I  PUT   JESUS   IN   FRONT." 

A  T  my  first  interview  with  LEWIS  LOVETT,  2d  Regiment  U.  S. 
-£JL  Colored  Vol.,  Co.  C.,  we  found  him  prayerful,  penitent,  pa- 
tient, brave,  and  fluent  in  religious  conversation.  He  said  he  had 
been  serving  God  thirty-two  years,  and  seemed  to  be  a  decided, 
earnest  Christian.  I  said  to  him,  "  How  does  the  Saviour  ap- 
pear to  you?"  He  replied,  "He  is  dear  and  sweet;  and  I  am 
determined  to  hold  on  to  him,  let  what  else  may  come."  "  When 
I  go  into  battle,  I  put  Jesus  in  front;  and  if  I  fall,  I  will  hold  him 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  47 

fast."  "  I  have  no  fear  in  battle."  .  "  No  fear  ?  "  "  No."  "  Why 
not  ? "  "  Because  I  put  Jesus  in  front ;  and  if  I  fall,  I  know  he 
will  save  me."  "  Perfect  love  casteth  out  fear.  Oh,  what  an 
exalted  privilege !  What  a  glorious  attainment !  ready  and  will- 
ing to  die  for  your  country,  and  prepared  '  to  die  in  the  Lord/  " 
Thanks  be  to  God  for  such  faith  and  heroic  patriotism.  It  is 
worth  more  than  earth's  loftiest  throne,  or  brightest  laurel  ever 
won  upon  the  field  of  battle.  "  Don't  the  shock  of  battle,  the 
roaring  cannon,  the  whizzing  bullet,  and  the  bursting  shell, 
affright  you?  Don't  the  streaming  blood,  the  groans  of  the 
wounded  and  dying  intimidate  you?"  "No;  with  Jesus  in 
front,  none  of  these  things  move  me ;  neither  count  I  my  life 
dear  to  myself,  so  that  I  may  win  victories,  aid  in  quelling  the 
rebellion,  and,  if  need  be,  die  for  God  and  my  country.  I  go  in 
for  crushing  out  the  rebellion  at  all  hazards,  though  blood  flow 
to  the  horse's  bridle,  and  death  come  up  to  the  window."  "  You 
seem  to  have  courage  like  a  martyr,  and  faith  almost  equal  to 
Abraham."  "  I  don't  know,  but  I  suppose  not.  I  am  a  poor 
sinner;  but  with  Jesus  in  front,  and  the  everlasting  arms  be- 
neath, I  fear  no  evil.  God  says,  '  No  evil  shall  touch  thee.' 
With  God  for  my  help,  and  with  Jesus  in  front,  and  holding 
him  fast,  striving,  watching,  and  praying,  I  expect  to  go  on 
fighting  the  'good  fight  of  faith'  until  God  says,  'Depart,  and 
come  up  higher.' " 

"  You  seem  to  have  no  doubts  of  salvation  ?"  "  No ;  I  passed 
the  Slough  of  Despond  and  doubts  long  ago,  and  now,  by  offer- 
ing up  prayers  and  supplications,  with  strong  crying  and  tears, 
I  strive  to  '  go  on  to  perfection/  and  I  feel  very  happy.  With 
Jesus  'in  front  to  direct,  guard,  protect,  and  sustain  me,  I  fear 
nothing  but  sin,  and  nobody  but  God.  I  expect  soon  to  die ;  but 
I  have  no  fear  of  death.  Death  is  only  a  change — nothing  but 
a  departure.  '  To  die  is  gain,  and  to  depart  is  far  better/  I 
won  victories  on  the  field  of  battle,  but  when  I  die,  I  expect  to 
win  a  far  more  glorious  victory." 

"  How  did  you  attain  to  this  high  degree  of  assurance  and 
comfort  ?  "  "  Besides  striving  to  '  walk  worthy,'  I  just  take  God 
at  his  word,  and  tiy  to  act  as  though  I  believed  what  he  says.  I 


48  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

stagger  not,  but  step  right  out  upon  the  promises  of  God,  like  in- 
trepid Peter,  when  he  walked  upon  the  water  to  go  to  Jesus.  Jesus 
said,  <  Come,'  and  Peter  stepped  forth,  treading  the  mighty  deep, 
'  nothing  doubting.'  When  God  commanded  Abraham  to  sacri- 
fice his  son,  he  went  forth  and  offered  him  without  waiting, 
doubting  nothing.  When  God  bade  Noah  build  an  ark,  he 
obeyed,  went  forward  and  built  it."  "  So,  I  suppose,  it  is  with 
you,  when  God  says  do  this  or  that ;  you  go  forward  with  implicit 
faith  and  do  it."  "Yes,  that's  it  —  WHOLE-HEARTED  FAITH 
IN  GOD,  DOUBTING  NOTHING.  When  I  ask  God  in  faith,  I 
expect,  believe,  and  know  he  will  hear  me."  "You  colored 
people  have  long  prayed  for  liberty?"  "Yes;  we  have  long 
prayed  and  wrestled  with  God  for  it."  "  You  expected  it  ? " 
"Yes;  we  were  sure  of  it.  We  knew  that  God  said,  'Let  the 
oppressed  go  free,' and  we  knew  he  would  bring  it  to  pass." 
"  The  great  secret  of  attaining  this  assurance  is  UNSHAKEN 
FAITH  IN  GOD.  It  is  all  summed  up  in  two  words  —  BELIEVING 
and  DOING."  "  Yes,  that's  it, —  believing  and  doing  with  all  your 
heart.  Just  take  God  at  his  word,  and  do  what  he  says.  I  strive 
to  be  faithful  to  God  and  my  country ;  and  I  expect  to  cling  to 
the  cross  and  stand  by  the  flag  till  I  die." 


A  HERO   OF  PLYMOUTH:  "I  WILL  FALL  RIGHT  INTO  HIS  ARMS." 

I  became  acquainted  with  JOHN  H.  BARNETT,  Co.  H,  101st  Pa.  Vol., 
some  two  years  ago,  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.  At  our  first  interview,  he  said, 
"  The  army  has  been  a  good  place  for  me ; "  and  he  went  on  and  gave  me 
an  account  of  his  conversion,  which  occurred  since  he  enlisted  in  1861,  at 
New  Brighton,  Pa.  He  endured  the  hardness  of  the  Peninsula  campaign, 
and  for  many  months  the  miasmatic  atmosphere  of  swampy  North  Carolina, 
and  the  shock  of  all  the  battles  in  which  the  101st  was  engaged.  He  was 
regularly  at  prayer-meeting,  at  church,  Bible-class,  and  a  frequent,  welcome 
visitor  at  my  quarters,  to  get  religious  books,  and  talk  about  religion.  He 
would  often  meet  with  a  few  colored  people,  read  the  Bible,  talk  and  pray 
with  them,  and  had  concluded  to  study  for  the  ministry.  He  often  assisted 
me  in  distributing  papers  and  tracts  to  the  regiment.  His  captain  called 
him  "  Our  Chaplain." 

He  was  severely  wounded  April  19,  1864,  while  supporting  the  pickets 
during  the  heavy  siege  at  Plymouth.  When  the  battle  was  over,  after  he 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  49 

had  lain  on  the  cold  ground  for  several  hours,  the  rebels  took  him  into  the 
hospital,  and  laid  him  down  near  the  fire  with  their  wounded,  and  seemed 
to  treat  him  kindly.  Here  I  visited,  read,  preached  to  and  prayed  with 
him,  surrounded  by  some  forty  wounded  rebels.  Though  apparently  mor- 
tally wounded,  he  was  calm,  patient,  composed,  and  resigned.  Not  an 
expression  of  fear  or  complaint  fell  from  his  lips.  Intimating  to  him,  one 
evening,  that  he  would  probably  die  before  morning,  and  pointing  him  to 
Jesus,  I  said,  "  Do  you  think  he  will  save  you  ?  "  "  Yes,"  he  said ;  "1  will 
fall  rig/it  into  his  arms  !  "  How  glorious  to  fall  on  the  field,  hattling  for 
his  country,  and  yet  fall  into  the  arms  of  Jesus !  Putting  his  hand  into 
his  pocket,  he  drew  out  his  Testament,  stained  with  his  own  blood,  and 
gave  it  to  me,  together  with  his  diary,  pocket-book  —  containing  some 
sixty-seven  dollars  —  and  his  coat-buttons,  to  send  home  to  his  widowed 
mother.  Though  unable  to  get  up,  or  turn  himself  as  he  lay  on  the  floor 
suffering  from  his  wounds,  he  took  it  all  very  patiently,  as  though  he  was 
reposing  "  in  the  arms  of  Jesus."  He  was  a  good  fellow,  a  faithful  soldier, 
and  evidently  a  devoted  Christian. 

At  my  last  visit,  at  his  request,  I  read,  kneeled  down  by  him  and  prayed 
for  his  salvation.  Oh,  how  very  much  I  regretted  to  leave  him  and  the 
rest  of  our  wounded.  With  weeping  eyes  I  bade  him  a  long  farewell,  to 
meet  no  more  on  earth.  He  died,  I  heard,  shortly  after,  and  doubtless 
"  fell  into  the  arms  of  Jesus,"  and  his  soul  went  from  a  rebel  hospital  home 
to  heaven,  where  there  will  be  no  more  war,  pain,  nor  death. 

Very  early  next  morning,  we,  Gen.  Wessels,  his  staff,  and  a  few  other 
officers,  started  for  Libby  on  an  old  tug-boat,  up  the  Koanoke  River. 

A.  S.  B , 

Late  Chaplain  101st  Pa.  Vol. 

"JESUS  IS  PRECIOUS  TO  ME  NOW." 

The  wharf  to  which  the  patients  of  the  U.  S.  General  Hospital, 
Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  were  brought,  was  near  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  from  the  hospital,  at  the  mouth  of  Hampton  Creek.  Here  they 
were  brought  in  on  Government  steamers  at  the  rate  of  from  one 
hundred  and  fifty  to  eight  hundred  a  day.  From  this  point  the 
patients  either  walked,  were  hauled  in  ambulances,  or  were  car- 
ried on  stretchers,  to  the  wards,  and  laid  on  their  narrow  beds  to 
suffer,  get  well,  or  bleed  and  die,  and  fill  a  soldier's  grave,  as  God 
had  appointed  them.  It  was  a  sad  sight  to  see  a  large  steamer 
crowded  with  brave  men,  bearing  scars  of  honor,  with  bleeding 
wounds  and  amputated  limbs,  patiently  waiting  the  attention  and 
comforts  of  the  hospital.  Here,  on  these  crowded  transports,  we 
4 


50  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

walked  among  the  living  and  the  dead,  and  often  found  the  suf- 
fering heroes,  some  in  the  last  stages  of  life,  and  others  in  the 
agonies  of  death.  Here  they  lie,  strewn  all  over  the  boat,  calm, 
quiet,  and  composed,  and  sometimes,  when  they  had  just  come 
off  the  gory  field  flushed  with  victory,  as  at  the  capture  of  Fort 
Fisher,  or  the  fall  of  Richmond,  with  hearts  glowing,  and  eyes 
sparkling  with  patriotism,  they  were  in  the  best  of  spirits,  and 
full  of  jubilation.  And  while  some  were  thus  exulting  over 
victories  won  by  valor  and  courage  upon  the  field,  others  we 
found  glorying  in  the  Cross,  and  rejoicing  in  Him  who  conquered 
on  Calvary,  and  through  whom  we  can  conquer,  even  to  the  last 
enemy  —  Death ! 

On  one  of  the  dog-days  of  August,  1864,  three  boat-loads  of 
patients  (some  four  hundred  in  all)  were  brought  down  from 
Deep  Bottom,  among  whom  were  two  dead  officers,  and  a  great 
many  very  severely  wounded,  with  amputated  legs  and  arms.  It 
was  while  passing  around  among  these  brave  heroes,  endeavoring 
to  learn  their  spiritual  condition  and  catch  the  dying  words  of 
the  dying,  that  we  came  to  one  suffering  severely,  whose  first 
words,  after  he  recognized  me,  were  "  JESUS  is  PRECIOUS  TO  ME 
NOW."  "Jesus  precious  to  you  now?  Oh,  how  rich  and 
striking  this  spontaneous  manifestation  of  faith,  joy,  and  comfort. 
Yes,  although  just  from  the  gory  field  of  battle,  with  the  loss  of 
an  arm  and  much  blood,  and  lying  among  the  dead  and  dying, 
yet  with  Jesus  precious  to  your  soul,  you  must  be  very  happy  ?  " 
"  Yes,  chaplain,  I  am  happy.  With  Jesus  precious,  whether  in 
sickness  or  in  health,  whether  in  prosperity  or  adversity,  in  life 
or  in  death,  we  can  say,  '  all  is  well.'  It  is  not  in  the  place  we 
occupy  on  earth ;  it  is  not  in  the  friends  about  us ;  it  is  not  in 
worldly  engagements  or  earthly  emoluments.  No;  it  is  in  enjoy- 
ing Christ's  gracious  presence  that  makes  us  happy.  Enjoying 
his  smiles,  though  the  world  may  allure  and  devils  prowl,  we 
have  nothing  to  fear,  and  can  rejoice  with  a  joy  unspeakable  and 
full  of  glory." 

Jesus  is  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother;  and 
although  he  may,  for  a  while,  sometimes  withdraw  his  smiles 
from  his  children,  to  try  them,  yet  when  they  have  sufficiently 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  51 

felt  the  rod,  he  withdraws  the  frown  and  restores  the  joys  of  his 
salvation.  All  earthly  friends  may  forsake  us,  but  Jesus  never. 
It  is  a  law  of  his  kingdom  never  to  forsake  the  least  of  his  sub- 
jects. Hence  his  farewell  promise,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  always," 
should  always  give  comfort  and  consolation  to  his  followers, 
whether  at  home,  abroad,  or  amidst  the  clash  of  arms  and  the 
shock  of  battle.  It  will  matter  but  little  who  else  may  be  absent, 
or  whatever  may  be  your  circumstances,  with  a  sense  of  God's 
presence  and  with  Jesus  precious  to  your  soul,  your  peace  will 
flow  like  a  river. 


"WHY   DID   YOU  CALL   ME   BACK?" 

It  was  early  in  May,  1864,  while  making  my  regular  rounds 
among  the  sick,  wounded,  and  dying,  that  I  came  in  contact  with 
Moses  Bowman,  15th  Va.,  Co.  F,  whom  I  found,  at  our  first  inter- 
view, indulging  a  hope  that  he  had  passed  from  death  unto  life. 
In  God's  good  providence,  it  seems,  enlisting  under  his  coun- 
try's flag  had  been  the  means  of  his  enlisting  under  the  banner 
of  the  Cross.  There  is  something  connected  with  army  life  and 
with  battle  scenes  well  calculated  to  impress  and  awaken  the 
sinner.  The  solemn  pause,  the  awful  suspense  just  before  a 
battle,  together  with  the  dread  of  death  and  the  awful  forebodings 
of  the  eternal  world,  are  well  calculated  to  arouse  the  most  care- 
less. Hence,  conversions  among  the  most  wayward  are  not 
unfrequent  in  the  army.  It  was  some  such  impressions,  it 
seems,  received  during  the  thrilling  scenes  of  battle,  that  led  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  to  repentance.  "God,  who  out  of  the 
mouths  of  babes  has  ordained  strength,  has  his  own  way  of 
doing  his  work."  He  who  shoots  his  arrows  when,  where,  and 
how  he  pleases,  can  make  the  whizzing  of  a  bullet,  the  groans 
of  the  dying,  or  the  lightning's  vivid  flash,  the  means  of  the 
soul's  salvation.  And  aroused  from  his  slumber  and  convinced 
of  his  sin,  Moses  Bowman  began  to  pray  on  the  field  of  battle ; 
and  there,  pleading  for  mercy,  it  seemed  darkness  fled,  light 
dawned  upon  his  soul,  God  smiled,  the  Spirit  wooed,  Satan  was 
dethroned,  and  Christ  enthroned  upon  his  heart;  and  with  a  sou1 


52  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

leaping  for  joy  and  a  heart  swelling  with  gratitude,  he  was  enabled 
to  exclaim,  "All  is  bright/'  and  "I  am  happy  in  God."  Yes, 
though  clothed  in  garments  stained  with  blood,  and  surrounded 
with  the  dead  and  dying,  with  the  stern  reality  of  eternity  rising 
in  full  view  before  him,  yet  calmly  reposing  in  the  arms  of  Jesus, 
and  longing  to  depart,  he  said,  upon  recovering  from  a  sinking 
spell,  which  brought  him  nigh  unto  death,  "  Why  did  you  call 
me.  back?  "  "  I  saw  Jesus  and  the  angels  waiting  to  receive  me." 
And  now  with  his  enraptured  soul  so  filled  with  joy  that  he  was 
enfeebled  thereby,  or  from  his  wound,  he  said,  "  My  mind  is  so 
weak,  I  can't  enjoy  it  well."  The  Rev.  John  Welsh,  an  earnest 
Scotch  divine,  who  spent  eight  hours  out  of  twenty-four  in  prayer, 
when  about  to  depart,  enjoyed  such  an  ecstasy  of  joy  that  he 
exclaimed,  with  his  dying  breath,  "  It  is  enough,  O  Lord ;  it  is 
enough :  hold  thy  hand ;  thy  servant  is  a  clay  vessel,  and  can 
hold  no  more ! "  Somewhat  similar  seemed  to  have  been  the 
feelings  of  Moses  Bowman  as  he  stood  upon  the  threshold  of 
glory.  His  last  words  to  me,  according  to  my  record,  were, 
"  God  blessed  me."  Whether  he  got  well,  or  soon  went  home  to 
heaven,  I  know  not. 


"  I  DON'T  FEAR  NOTHIN'  AT  ALL." 

A  sense  of  shame  and  the  fear  of  man  are  two  great  hindrances 
in  the  discharge  of  religious  duties.  Perseverance  and  courage 
are  equally  alike  necessary  to  win  and  conquer  at  the  foot  of  the 
Cross  as  they  are  upon  the  field  of  battle.  Yea,  more ;  for  it 
requires  more  strength  and  moral  courage  to  face  the  world,  the 
flesh,  and  the  devil,  than  it  does  to  face  the  blazing  charge  and 
the  belching  cannon's  mouth.  To  stand  firm  for  your  country's 
flag  requires  much  undaunted  courage ;  but  it  requires  more  to 
stand  firm  for  the  cross  of  Christ. 

And  it  was  while  we  were  passing  through  "  New  Camp," 
canvassing  the  hearts  of  the  colored  patients,  that  the  brave 
words  heading  this  article  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  brave  Edward 
Draper,  45th  U.  S.,  Co.  H.,  while  he  lay  upon  his  bed,  suffering 
with  rheumatic  pains,  as  I  was  talking  to  him  about  the  matchless 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  53 

love  of  Jesus,  and  he  telling  me  about  what  great  things  the 
Lord  had  done  for  him.  "And  have  you  no  fear?"  "No."  "No 
fear  of  death  ?  "  "  No ;  I  trust  in  de  Lord  all  de  time  for  every- 
thing." "And  so  you  are  satisfied  ?"  "  Yes ;  God  gives  me  what 
I  need,  and  ( I  don't  want.'"  "Will  you  please  give  me  a  brief 
sketch  of  your  history  ?  When  were  you  converted  ?"  "  About 
two  years  ago."  "  Where  ?"  "  In  New  Jersey."  "  What  led  to 
your  conversion  ?"  "Light.  I  prayed  to  de  Lord,  and  I  received 
light;  then  I  knew  I  was  in  darkness."  "How  did  you  feel, 
when  you  received  the  light  ? "  "  Me  felt  I  was  a  very  great 
sinner."  "  How  did  your  sins  appear  to  you  ?  "  "  My  sins  seemed 
very  great  and  heavy,  and  my  heart  felt  hard,  and  me  felt  very 
bad  and  unhappy.  Then  me  prayed  on  to  de  Lord ;  me  broke 
off  from  my  evil  ways,  and  all  of  a  sudden,  when  I  was  prayin' 
and  meditatin'  about  de  blessed  Saviour,  I  felt  as  though  a  great 
burden  rolled  off  my  back,  and  dare,  while  wrestling  with  de 
good  Lord,  I  believe  Christ  was  formed  in  my  poor  soul,  and  I 
felt  a  great  change  come  over  me.  And  now  I  pray  day  and  night, 
and  feel  ready  to  go  whenever  de  Lord  calls  me."  "  No  fear  ?  no 
want?  and  ready  to  die  any  time? — what  a  glorious  attainment! 
How  did  you  make  such  progress  in  holiness?"  "Oh,  I  just 
trust  in  de  Lord,  and  pray  day  and  night.  Christ  is  very  dear  and 
precious.  I  goes  to  church,  when  I  can,  to  hear  of  Jesus.  I 
serve  him.  And  it  is  a  glorious  thing ! "  "  What  is  a  glorious 
thing  !  "  "  Religion,  and  to  enjoy  this  assurance  of  salvation  ?  I 
would  not  be  without  it  for  all  the  world.  What  is  a  man 
profited,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul? 
Yes,  it  is  a  glorious  thing !  By  it,  Christ,  the  glorious  Saviour, 
is  made  unto  the  believer  '  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification, 
and  redemption.'  Through  it  we  achieve  a  glorious  victory,  and 
receive  a  glorious  crown.  It  is  glorious  on  earth ;  it  will  be  far 
more  glorious  in  heaven.  That  by  which  we  rise  above  all 
'  fear '  and  '  want,'  and  by  which  we  are  made  heirs  of  God,  and 
receive  Christ  in  all  his  fulness,  and  are  made  to  reign  and  rule 
with  him  on  his  throne  (Rev.  iii.  21)  in  heaven,  must  be  perfectly 
glorious.  All  earthly  glory  and  honor  is  nothing  compared 
with  the  honor  and  glory  the  glorious  gospel  reveals." 


54  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    \fAR. 

"THE  WORLD  IS  HOLLOW  AND  EMPTY." 

Notwithstanding  the  general  similarity  in  the  soldier's  experi- 
ence, we  find,  on  some  points,  a  shade  of  difference  in  every 
individual  case.  Accustomed  to  hardness,  suffering,  and  death, 
even  with  a  well-grounded  hope,  they  generally  expressed  no  fear 
of  death.  At  our  first  interview  with  John  B.  Moore,  1st  Texas, 
Co.  D,  though  conscious  of  his  being  mortally  wounded,  yet 
with  an  abiding  hope,  he  said,  "  I  feel  perfectly  resigned."  Blessed 
with  courage  and  self-reliance,  I  said  to  him,  "You  seem  very 
calm,  cheerful,  and  lively."  "  Yes,  I  do  feel  so ;  and  it  is 
because  I  love  God."  Love  to  God  is  enough  to  calm  the  most 
turbulent  and  rebellious,  and  cast  a  lasting  smile  upon  the  most 
forlorn  of  earth.  Linked  to  God's  throne  by  the  ties  of  this 
heavenly  grace,  it  soothes  the  sorrows  of  the  distressed,  binds  up 
the  broken  in  heart,  and  comforts  in  circumstances  the  most 
adverse  and  trying.  Constrained  by  the  fire  and  strength  of 
divine  love,  the  heroic  martyr  dies  at  the  stake  with  joy  and  tri- 
umph. And  fired  with  this  most  noble  of  all  principles,  —  of  love 
to  country  and  love  to  God, — the  faithful  dying  soldier,  though 
weltering  in  his  own  blood,  in  defending  the  honor  of  his  coun- 
try's flag  and  the  glory  of  his  Saviour's  cross,  will  shout  victory 
in  the  last  agonies  of  death  upon  the  gory  field  of  battle.  Con- 
strained by  this  most  powerful  of  all  motives,  our  country  has 
been  deluged  with  blood  and  ridged  with  graves.  And  to  buoy 
up,  encourage,  and  console  the  suffering  soldier  in  the  hospital, 
there  is  nothing  like  it.  Conscious  of  his  own  sins  and  un worthi- 
ness, John  B.  Moore  seemed  very  penitent,  and  manifested  a 
strong  desire  to  live  a  righteous  life,  and  die  a  triumphant  death. 
His  tender  emotions,  his  anxious  desires,  his  resigned  and  prayer- 
ful spirit,  all  gave  evidence  that  the  love  of  God  was  shed  abroad 
in  his  heart.  With  a  high  appreciation  of  things  spiritual,  and 
a  deep  sense  of  the  instability  and  vanity  of  things  temporal,  he 
said,  "  The  world  is  hollow  and  empty."  "  Yes,"  I  replied, — 

"  '  This  world  is  all  a  fleeting  show, 

For  man's  illusion  given: 
Deceitful  shine,  deceitful  flow, 
There 's  nothing  true  but  heaven.' 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  65 

Solomon,  with  a  very  rich  and  a  most  varied  experience,  rolling 
in  wealth  and  grandeur,  and  crowned  with  a  brilliant  success  as 
a  ruler  on  the  throne,  yet  with  all  his  wisdom  and  understanding, 
at  the  close  of  a  most  eventful  life,  in  speaking  of  the  emptiness 
of  earthly  things,  exclaimed,  "  Vanity  of  vanities !  vanity  of 
vanities  !  all  is  vanity."  What,  we  ask,  signifies  all  the  gold  of 
Ophir,  if  a  man  is  without  the  pearl  of  great  price  ?  What  sig- 
nifies the  most  extensive  intellectual  attainments,  if  a  man  is 
without  an  experimental  knowledge  of  the  way  of  salvation?  Of 
what  value  are  all  the  laurels  and  victories  won  upon  the  field 
of  battle,  if  the  conqueror  is  at  last  conquered  by  Satan  ?  What, 
we  ask,  does  it  signify  to  sit  on  the  loftiest  throne  of  earth,  if  at 
last  you  make  your  bed  in  hell?  Then  let  us  with  meek  humility 
sit  low  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross,  and  learn  how  to  be  wise,  useful, 
and  good.  In  talking  about  the  ministers  of  Texas,  I  asked  him 
if  he  had  ever  seen  the  distinguished  Dr.  Baker.  "  Yes,"  he 
said ;  u  I  have  often  fed  his  horse  when  he  was  stopping  at  my 
father's  house.  He  was  the  first  man  that  ever  showed  me  the 
Cross."  With  ups  and  downs,  John  Moore  survived  the  struggle 
of  life  till  Nov.  1,  1864,  and  gave  up  the  ghost. 

"I  CAME  OUT  TO  CONQUER  OR  DIE."     «  THEY  LEFT  ME  FOR  DEAD." 

To  hear  the  brave  soldier  recount  the  thrilling  incidents  of 
battle  —  the  deadly  charge,  the  hand-to-hand  fight,  and  the 
bloody  conflict  —  is  enough  to  warm  the  heart  and  stir  the  soul 
of  the  most  indifferent  and  unpatriotic.  Returning  from  visiting 
the  sick  and  wounded,  one  day,  as  I  approached  my  quarters,  I 
fell  in  conversation  with  Robert  Curtis,  1st  U.S.,  Co.  C,  who  gave 
me  an  astonishing  account  of  his  inhuman  treatment,  severe  pun- 
ishment, and  wonderful  escape  from  the  enemy.  He  was  from 
Salem,  N.  J.,  and  seemed  to  be  a  confiding,  steadfast  Christian ; 
said  "  he  started  to  serve  God  twenty-two  years  ago,"  and,  trust- 
ing in  the  Lord,  appeared  to  have  no  fear  of  death.  He  was  in 
the  fight  at  "  the  springing  of  the  mine,"  near  Petersburg,  Va., 
July  30,  1864.  Said  he,  "  As  we  went  into  it,  I  said,  'It's  God's 
work,  and  I  am  going  into  it.  I  came  out  to  conquer  or  die;7" 


56  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  urging  his  colonel  to  go  forward,  in  they  plunged  with  twelve 
hundred  men  in  his  regiment,  and  so  destructive  was  the  battle, 
they  came  out  with  only  nineteen.  The  idea  that  "  it  is  God's 
work,"  urges  on  the  religious  devotee  more  than  all  things  else 
besides.  Impress  the  Turk  or  Mohammedan  with  this  principle, 
and  they  will  fight  to  the  very  death.  Coming  in  close  contact 
in  that  battle,  Robert  Curtis  said,  "  One  rebel  ran  his  bayonet 
through  my  body,  another  shot  off  one  of  my  fingers  and  bit  my 
left  arm."  "  Why,  you  must  have  had  a  real  hot  time  of  it !  "  "  Yes, 
chaplain,  it  was  hot."  "  And  what  did  you  do  to  the  bloodthirsty 
rebels  in  this  severe  conflict ?  "  "I  shot  five  of  them  dead ;  got 
one  by  the  throat  with  my  teeth,  and  tried  to  bite  his  big  vein, 
but  I  failed  to  do  it;  and  while  he  had  me  by  the  arm,  I  got  loose 
from  him,  picked  up  a  gun  and  shot  him  dead  ;  and  falling  down 
by  him,  the  rebels  jumped  up  and  down  on  me,  till  the  blood 
gushed  out  of  my  side  so  profusely  they  left  me  for  dead.  I 
laid  there  for  three  days,  got  better,  and  in  three  days  the  '  rebs ' 
came  around  and  took  me  into  the  hospital,  and  I  got  well." 
Such  is  his  wonderful  story ;  and  did  he  not  bear  about  with  him 
in  the  body  the  marks  of  those  ruthless  rebels,  we  would  look 
upon  it  as  being  almost  incredible  ;  but  when  we  saw  the  print 
of  their  voracious  teeth  in  his  arm,  and  saw  the  rent  in  his  side, 
we  could  no  longer  doubt.  "Your  sufferings  have  been  very 
severe  indeed ;  but  they  are  nothing  compared  with  the  sufferings 
of  Christ.  You  received  five  wounds  on  the  gory  field ;  he 
received  five  on  the  bloody  cross.  You  suffered  pain  of  body ; 
Christ  suffered  agony  of  soul.  You  suffered  the  frowns  of  ene- 
mies on  earth ;  Christ  suffered  the  frown  of  his  Father  in  heaven. 
You  suffered  for  the  salvation  of  your  country ;  Christ  for  the 
salvation  of  the  world.  You  suffered  without  seeing  death ;" 
Christ  suffered  the  ignominious  death  of  the  cross." 

The  following  extract  is  from  the  distinguished  Chaplain 
McCabe.  It  denotes  strong  courage  and  a  lofty  patriotism  in 
the  wounded  hero.  Snch  acts  of  heroism  deserve  to  be  published 
all  over  the  earth.  I  never  learned  the  hero's  name. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  57 


"GOOD-BY,  OLD  ARM!" 

In  an  hospital  at  Nashville,  a  short  time  ago,  a  wounded  hero  was  lying 
on  the  amputation-table,  under  the  influence  of  chloroform.  They  cut  off 
his  strong  right  arm,  and  cast  it,  all  bleeding,  upon  the  pile  of  human 
limbs.  They  then  laid  him  gently  upon  his  couch.  He  woke  from  hia 
stupor,  and  missed  his  arm.  With  his  left  arm  he  lifted  the  cloth,  and 
there  was  nothing  but  the  gory  stump  I  "  Where 's  my  arm  ?  "  he  cried ; 
"  get  my  arm ;  I  want  to  see  it  once  more  —  my  strong  right  arm."  They 
brought  it  to  him.  He  took  hold  of  the  cold,  clammy  fingers,  and,  look- 
ing steadfastly  at  the  poor  dead  member,  thus  addressed  it  with  tearful 
earnestness :  "  Good-by,  old  arm !  We  have  been  a  long  time  together. 
We  must  part  now.  Good-by,  old  arm  I  You  '11  never  fire  another  carbine 
nor  swing  another  sabre  for  the  Government;  "  and  the  tears  rolled  down 
his  cheeks.  He  then  said  to  those  standing  by,  "Understand,  I  don't 
regret  its  loss.  It  has  been  torn  from  my  body  that  not  one  State  should 
be  torn  from  this  glorious  Union."  He  might  have  added : 

"  Some  things  are  worthless,  some  others  so  good 
That  nations  that  buy  them  pay  only  in  blood : 
For  freedom  and  Union  each  man  owes  his  part, 
And  here  I  pay  my  share,  all  warm  from  my  heart." 

This  is  what  that  man  gave.    What  is  your  share  and  mine? 


"PUT  THE  BRIGHT  SIDE   OUT  TO  MOTHER." 

Filial  affection  is  one  of  the  strongest  propensities  of  the  soul ; 
implanted  in  the  human  breast  by  God  himself,  it  is  a  ruling 
passion  of  the  heart.  To  love  one's  mother  ardently  is  natural. 
A  striking  example  of  which  is  seen  in  the  case  of  a  little  drum- 
mer-boy, as  he  lay  dying  in  the  awful  abodes  of  Andersonville* 
prison.  The  little  hero  had  long  endured  the  hardships  and 
deprivations  of  prison-life  with  great  patience  and  heroism ;  but 
the  severe  suffering  and  exposure  at  last  proved  too  much  for 
him.  Reduced  by  hunger  and  disease,  and  crushed  with  rebel 
cruelty  and  revenge,  frail  nature  gives  way,  and,  with  his  cup  of 
suffering  almost  full,  the  day  of  his  relief  draws  nigh.  How 
sad  and  mournful  the  scene !  Draw  nigh,  and  gaze  upon  the 
noble  patriot.  There  he  lies.  Once  cheering  the  home,  and 
gladdening  the  heart,  of  his  widowed  mother,  —  now  he  lies  low 
in  the  agonies  of  death.  The  heart  that  once  throbbed  with 


58  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

patriotic  devotion  is  now  sinking  in  death.  The  king  of  terrors 
closes  in  upon  him,  and,  though  dying  amidst  all  the  heart-rend- 
ing scenes  of  Anderson  ville,  yet,  with  a  heart  gushing  with  filial 
affection  and  love,  his  thoughts  fly  home  to  the  parental  roof; 
and  having  cheered  and  comforted  his  dear  mother  during  life, 
he  is  most  tender  and  faithful  to  her  in  death.  And  being  well 
aware  of  the  severe  stroke  his  death  would  prove  to  her,  he 
endeavors  to  lighten  it ;  and,  with  his  dying  words,  pours  into 
her  smitten  heart  the  living  words  of  strong  consolation.  It  is 
the  last  act  of  his  life ;  and,  commending  his  soul  to  God,  he 
bids  his  comrade  come  to  him,  and,  as  he  bent  down  to  catch  his 
last  words,  he  whispered  into  his  ear :  _"  PUT  THE  BRIGHT 
SIDE  OUT  TO  MOTHER  ! "  And  with  a  few  more  struggles,  his 
noble  soul  passed  away,  crowned  with  the  honors  and  glories  of 
martyrdom. 

"  Thank  God  !  the  battle  is  fought ;  the  victory  won ;  and  his 
soul  is  saved.  But,  alas  ! "  said  his  faithful  friend,  as  he  bowed 
his  head,  and  wept  bitterly,  "  what  side  is  bright  in  this  terrible 
prison  -  life  ?  It  is  all  darkness,  horror,  and  gloom."  His 
remains  were  interred  in  the  gloomy  graveyard  close  by;  but  his 
comrade's  life  was  spared  to  tell  the  sad  story  to  his  bereaved 
mother. 

Mark  the  sublime  courage,  strong,  filial  affection,  and  patient 
resignation  of  this  noble  boy.  Though  his  soul  was  harassed, 
and  his  heart  pierced  with  rebel  cruelty,  yet  not  a  murmuring 
word  fell  from  his  lips.  Oh,  what  deep  depths  of  filial  affection, 
moral  grandeur,  and  glory  breathe  through  those  immortal 
words,  "Put  the  bright  side  out  to  mother  !  "  What  a  noble  and 
magnanimous  principle  they  exhibit !  They  deserve  to  be  written 
in  letters  of  gold,  and  embedded  in  the  heart  of  every  youth. 
Let  them  be  written  upon  the  broad  canopy  of  heaven,  that 
every  son  and  daughter  of  the  land  may  read  them.  How 
sublime  and  Christ-like  this  example  of  filial  affection !  It  is 
second  only  to  that  exhibited  by  the  Saviour  himself  on  the 
cross.  Having  loved  and  served  his  Saviour  in  his  life,  here  we 
see  how  he  acts  like  him  in  his  death.  Jesus,  with  his  soul  wrapped 
in  the  deepest  agonies  of  the  cross,  laying  down  his  life  for  his 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  59 

people,  with  a  heart  gushing  with  care  and  affection  for  his  mother, 
charges  his  disciple,  John,  to  take  care  of  her,  ana,  with  his  dying 
words,  says  to  him,  "Behold  thy  mother"  *  The  drummer-boy, 
though  dying  amidst  all  the  horrors  of  Anderson ville,  laying 
down  his  life  for  his  country,  with  a  heart  glowing  with  filial 
affection,  says  to  his  comrade,  "Put  the  bright  side  out  to  mother!" 
The  Saviour  and  the  drummer-boy  both  seemed  to  be  more  con- 
cerned about  their  mothers'  sorrows  than  about  their  own  suffer- 
ings. 

*          "OH,  IF  I  ONLY  COULD!  " 

At  my  first  interview  with  SAMUEL  WILLIAMS,  104th  Pa.,  Co. 
E,  I  found  him  careless  and  prayerless.  Though  low  with  rheu- 
matism, he  still  remained  impenitent,  yet  not  destitute  of  religious 
emotions  and  desires.  I  endeavored  to  explain  to  him  the  sim- 
plicity of  the  plan  of  salvation  ;  and  when  I  urged  and  besought 
him  by  the  mercies  of  God  to  repent  and  come  to  Jesus,  he  earn- 
estly exclaimed,  "  If  I  only  could  !  Oh,  if  I  only  could  !  "  "  You 
can,  if  you  will"  I  replied.  "What  hinders  you  from  coming?" 
"  Oh,  I  don't  know ;  but  I  feel  as  though  I  cannot."  "  Perhaps 
you  have  never  tried  it  ?  Did  you  ever  try  to  pray  ?  "  "  No,  not 
much."  "  There  is  nothing  to  hinder  you  but  yourself.  God  is 
willing;  the  Spirit  is  wooing;  and  Jesus  is  able  and  waiting. 
Yes,  the  Lord  waits  to  be  gracious. 

'Jesus  ready  stands  to  save  you, 
Full  of  pity,  love,  and  power.' 

Jesus  having  made  '  all  things  ready/  now  most  earnestly  warns 
and  most  tenderly  invites  you  to  look  and  live,  believe,  and  be 
saved.  If  you  refuse  to  come,  and  go  down  to  eternal  death,  it 
is  your  own  fault.  It  is  the  sinner's  voluntary  'cannot'  that 
keeps  him  away  from  the  Saviour.  Jesus  nowhere  says  '  Ye  can- 
not ; '  but  he  expressly  says,  '  Ye  WILL  not  come  to  me,  that 
ye  might  have  life.'  (John  v.  40.)  Look  with  what  a  gushing 
heart  the  compassionate  Saviour  cried  to  wicked  Jerusalem  :  '  O 
Jerusalem !  Jerusalem !  how  often  would  I  have  gathered  thy  chil- 

*  That  is  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus. 


60  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

dren  together,  even  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her 
wings,  and  ye  would  not.'  Yes,  it  is  the  sinner's  '  ye  would  not ' 
and  '  will  not,'  not  his  '  cannot,'  that  keeps  him  away  from  the 
Saviour.  Whose  fault  then  is  it  that  the  sinner  is  lost  ?  Is  it  the 
fault  of  the  church  ?  No.  Is  it  the  preacher's  fault  ?  No.  Is  it 
Satan's  fault?  No.  Is  it  Christ's  fault ?  No ;  for  he  has  made 
an  atonement  sufficient  to  save  the  whole  world,  if  they  will  only 
accept  of  it.  Jesus  has  fulfilled  the  law,  satisfied  divine  justice, 
given  himself  a  ransom,  paid  the  price,  l  redeemed  us  by  his 
blood,'  wrought  out  salvation,  and  given  his  Spirit  to  apply  it, 
and  now  says,  '  What  could  have  been  done  more  to  my  vine- 
yard that  I  have  not  done.'  Then  let  the  important  question 
come  home  to  every  sinner's  heart,  Whose  fault  is  it,  if  he  is  lost  ? 
It  is  his  own  fault.  He  loses  his  own  soul.  He  works  out  his 
own  destruction.  '  And,'  says  an  old  orthodox  divine,  '  he  dies, 
because  he  will  die.'  Going  on  in  sin,  he  is  treasuring  up  'wrath 
against  the  day  of  wrath/  And  yet  you  say  you  can't  come  to 
Christ.  You  can,  if  you  will.  Only  make  up  your  mind,  and 
resolve,  like  the  penitent  prodigal,  '  I  WILL  arise,'  and  go,  and 
you  will  soon  find  the  way.  Perhaps  you  have  never  sought 
God  earnestly,  and  say  you  can't  without  making  the  proper 
effort.  God  says,  'Ye  shall  seek  me,  ahd  find  me,  when  ye 
shall  search  for  me  with  all  your  heart.'  (Jer.  xxix.  13.)  Are 
you  willing  to  come  to  Christ?"  "Oh,  yes;  I  am  willing,  if  I 
only  could."  "Christ's  ability  and  willingness  to  save  you  is 
beyond  a  doubt.  He  says, '  Whosoever  will,  let  him  come.'  Jesus 
is  f  mighty  to  save.'  You  seem  to  thirst  for  salvation.  And  the 
risen  Saviour  says,  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteih,  '  come.'  To  the 
man  with  a  withered  hand,  God  said,  '  Stretch  forth  thy  hand ; ' 
and  immediately  he  stretched  it  forth,  made  whole  as  the  other. 
God  said  to  the  valley  of  dry  bones,  'hear,'  and  they  heard.  He 
said  to  them  '  live,'  and  they  lived,  rose,  and  stood  upon  their 
feet,  an  exceeding  great  army.  And  although  you  may  think 
yourself  unable  to  come  to  Jesus,  yet  if,  like  Peter,  you  will  only 
make  the  effort,  strive  with  all  your  might,  and  throw  yourself 
right  into  the  arms  of  Jesus,  he  will  grasp  and  save  you.  Oh, 
then,  rise ;  come  with  all  your  hindrances ;  come  with  all  youi 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  61 

weakness ;  come  just  as  you  are  ;  look  and  live ;  believe,  and  be 
saved.  May  God  help  and  bless  you." 

"I  AM  HAPPY,  DAY  AND  NIGHT." 

JAMES  A.  CUNNINGHAM,  Co.  C,  96th  Ohio  Vol.,  constrained 
by  a  sense  of  duty  to  his  country,  volunteered  in  her  service  in 
August,  1862.  After  a  few  months'  hard  service,  he  shared  in 
the  honors  of  the  first  battle  of  Vicksburg,  in  the  following 
December,  and  shortly  after  he  took  sick ;  and  after  suffering 
severely  for  months,  from  exposure,  was  taken  to  the  U.  S.  Float- 
ing Hospital,  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  by  Rev.  B.  W.  Chidlaw, 
whom  he  afterward  called  to  him,  as  he  was  passing  through  the 
hospital.  After  a  short  interview,  by  way  of  introduction,  the 
minister  inquired  into  his  religious  prospects  and  feelings ;  where- 
upon he  replied,  "  /  am  happy,  day  and  night !  "  "  Happy,  day 
and  night,  here,  so  far  from  friends  and  home,  floating  on  this 
sickly,  frail  craft  ?  "  "  Oh,  yes ;  Jesus  is  my  all  in  all,  and  I 
am  happy."  It  is  not  the  place  nor  surroundings  that  make 
us  happy.  No ;  if  "  without  God,"  we  may  have  all  that  heart 
could  wish,  and  still  be  miserable.  But  if  we  can  only  say  from 
the  heart,  "  Jesus  is  my  all"  we  will  always  be  happy  anywhere. 
With  Jesus  for  our  prophet,  priest,  and  king,  we  may  say  with 
the  Psalmist,  "  In  thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy ;  "  and  then 

"Let  cares  like  a  wild  deluge  come, 
And  storms  of  sorrow  fall  — " 

And  let  the  world  allure ;  the  flesh  entice ;  and  Satan  shoot  his 
fiery  darts  dipped  in  sin's  poisonous  bowl ;  yet,  with  God  for  our 
portion  and  Jesus  for  our  all,  we  can  "bid  farewell  to  every  fear," 
and  say  "  all  is  well."  In  a  letter  to  his  father,  a  short  time 
l)efore  his  death,  he  said,  "  Father,  I  feel  satisfied.  I  hope  I 
have  no  fear  of  death.  I  have  my  Bible  and,  more  than  all, 
my  God,  near  me  day  and  night ;  and  I  pray  secretly  to  him  to 
watch  over  me,  and  prepare  me  for  every  trial  that  awaits  me  on 
earth,  and  fit  me  for  entering  that  rest  where  the  wicked  cease  to 
trouble,  and  the  weary  are  at  rest."  Patient,  and  resigned  to  his 
Father's  will,  and  enjoying  his  smiles,  he  rejoiced  in  tribulation. 


62  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Although  for  a  long  time  severely  afflicted  with  rheumatism  and 
chronic  diarrhoea,  yet,  sustained  by  God's  grace,  he  lingered  till 
May  3,  1863,  when  "the  silver  cord  was  loosed,  and  the  golden 
bowl  was  broken."  God  gave  him  his  discharge,  and,  doubtless, 
took  him  home  to  heaven,  a  few  days  after  he  had  received  his 
honorable  discharge  from  the  service  of  his  country.  His  mortal 
remains  were  taken  home  to  his  native  place  in  Delaware  County, 
Ohio,  and  decently  interred,  amidst  the  tears  of  a  bereaved 
mother,  father,  brothers,  sisters,  and  friends. 

The  following  extract  is  taken  from  one  of  the  author's  letters, 
written  before  he  entered  the  army,  while  laboring  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  of  Colorado. 

ATLANTIC  SLOPE,  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS,  •» 
BUCKSKIN  JOE,  C.  T.,  Oct.  15,  1862.      I 

The  religious  operations  of  this  isolated  territory  are  moving  on  as 
ustial ;  interrupted,  of  course,  more  or  less,  by  the  all-absorbing  interests 
of  the  war.  Detached,  as  we  are,  from  the  seat  of  the  great,  fierce,  and 
mighty  conflict,  we  feel  it  perhaps  less  than  most  other  sections.  Yet  we 
feel  it  sensibly  here  in  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Colorado  has  furnished  her 
full  quota  of  troops  to  defend  the  glorious  old  flag.  My  eyes  fill  with  tears 
while  penning  these  lines,  when  I  think  of  the  gross,  indignant  contempt 
with  which  that  flag  has  been  used.  God  grant  that  it  may  again  soon 
wave  untarnished  over  our  whole  country.  For  this  let  us  unitedly  pray, 
act,  and  fight.  How  awful,  terrible,  and  oh,  how  humiliating,  this  war ! 
And  yet  we  fear  the  people  are  not  yet  humbled  because  of  it.  Some  have 
asked  the  question,  Is  the  principle  at  stake  worth  all  that  it  is  costing  us 
in  treasure,  blood,  agony,  and  tears?  Yes,  and  infinitely  more !  What  is 
treasure,  what  is  life,  and  what  is  death,  when  a  great  eternal  principle  is 
at  stake?  What  is  half  a  million  of  lives,  and  all  the  gold  in  America,  to 
the  life  of  a  great  and  prosperous  nation  ?  Yes,  what  is  all  this  to  the 
life  of  civil  and  religious  liberty?  Oh,  then,  let  every  loyal  heart  gird  on 
the  sword ;  and  let  Zion  awake,  and  put  on  her  strength,  plead  and  pray 
for  deliverance  from  this  unhallowed  rebellion. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  .          63 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE   FALL   OF   PLYMOUTH. 

THE  REBELS  ATTACK  Us,  APRIL  17, 1864  —  THE  GARRISON  NUMBERED 
ABOUT  NINETEEN  HUNDRED  MEN  FIT  FOR  DUTY  —  EXCITEMENT 
GREAT  —  ALARMED  WOMEN  FLED  TO  ME,  CRYING,  "COME  AND 
PRAY  FOR  ME! "  " COME  IN  AND  PRAY  FOR  Us ! "  — THE  ARMY  AND 
NAVY  BOTH  ENGAGE  AT  ONCE  —  THE  SCENE  WAS  GRAND,  AWFUL, 
SUBLIME  —  REBEL  IRON- CLAD  ATTACKS  OUR  GUNBOATS  —  FIGHT 
SEVERE  —  LIEUT.  FLUSSER  KILLED  —  THE  GARRISON  OVERAWED 
BY  THE  REBEL  RAM  —  "THE  COMBAT  DEEPENS"  —  "  IN  THE  LAST 
DITCH"  —  HARD  FIGHTING  —  THE  CAPTURE  —  GEN.  WESSELS  SUR- 
RENDERS —  MASSACRE  AT  PLYMOUTH  —  VISITING  THE  WOUNDED  — 
PREACHED  IN  A  REBEL  HOSPITAL  —  PRAYED  FOR  A  REBEL  SOL- 
DIER. 

IT  was  on  a  mild,  beautiful  Sabbath-day,  April  17. 1864,  about 
five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  all  was  quiet,  that  the  rebels,  under 
command  of  Gen.  Hoke,  began  the  siege  of  Plymouth.  They 
commenced  the  assault  with  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  upon  Fort 
Gray,  some  two  miles  above  the  town,  on  the  Roanoke  River, 
commanded  by  Capt.  John  Brown,  of  the  85th  N.  Y.  Vol.,  who, 
with  his  brave  few,  gallantly  defended  it  to  the  last.  About  the 
same  time  an  attack  was  made  upon  our  pickets  in  front ;  where- 
upon a  small  detachment  of  the  12th  N.  Y.  Cavalry  was  sent  out 
to  see,  who,  after  a  short  skirmish  with  a  loss  of  one  man  killed, 
and  Lieut.  Russell  wounded,  soon  returned  to  announce  a  strong 
force  in  that  quarter.  The  alarm  now  suddenly  spread  all  over 
town,  and  many  of  the  women,  frantic  with  fear,  came  to  me, 
trembling  and  weeping,  crying, "  Come  and  pray  for  me!"  "  Come 
in  and  pray  for  us !  "  all  with  most  intense  anxiety  inquiring 
what  to  do  to  be  saved  ? 

I  had  preached  in  the  morning,  and  Chaplain  Dixon,  of  the 
16th  Conn.,  was  to  preach  at  night;  but  the  distraction  and  ex- 
citement were  so  great  that  the  sexton  failed  to  ring  the  bell ;  and 
we  had  no  evening  service.  A  few  of  the  praying  men  of  ray 


64  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

regiment  had  a  prayer-meeting  in  their  quarters.  It  was  a  good 
time  to  pray. 

A  little  after  dark,  the  spirited  firing  at  Fort  Gray  ceased ; 
and,  aside  from  the  activity  occasioned  by  sending  our  sick  and 
the  ladies  to  Roanoke  Island,  on  a  small  steamer,  a  solemn  silence 
pervaded  doomed  Plymouth,  with  the  men  all  at  their  posts, 
ready  for  any  emergency.  An  attack  had  been  expected  for 
several  days ;  and  Gen.  "Wessels,  with  characteristic  sagacity  and 
foresight,  made  due  preparations  for  it.  Early  Monday  morn- 
ing, the  stillness  of  the  night  was  broken  by  sharp  firing  above 
the  town,  indicating  the  rebels'  determination  to  take  Fort  Gray; 
and  in  the  struggle,  the  Bombshell,  a  small  gunboat,  was  so 
disabled  that  she  dropped  down  the  river,  and  sunk  opposite 
Plymouth. 

Nothing  of  special  notice  occurred  on  Monday,  but  occasional 
firing  by  the  enemy,  and  a  warm  skirmish  along  our  picket-line, 
wounding  Capt.  Burke. 

The  Massasoit  returned  from  Roanoke  Island  with  some  two 
hundred  men,  commanded  by  Capt.  Mays,  of  the  101st  Pa.  Vol., 
just  in  time  to  engage  in  the  severe  conflict.  Now  comes  the  tug 
of  war  in  earnest.  The  fierce  struggle  for  swampy  Plymouth  be- 
gins to  wax  hotter  and  hotter.  The  bloodthirsty  rebels  thus 
far  had  fired  only  upon  our  outposts ;  but  now,  Monday  evening, 
just  at  sunset,  a  heavy  line  of  infantry,  emerging  from  the  woods, 
drove  in  our  pickets  in  front;  and  obtaining  a  favorable  position 
for  their  artillery,  they  soon  opened  upon  the  town,  with  shells 
flying  from  five  or  six  batteries  at  a  most  terrible  rate,  paying 
particular  attention  to  Fort  Williams,  where  Gen.  Wessels  had 
established  his  head-quarter|.  It  was  just  after  supper;  and 
having  gone  over  to  the  head  of  my  regiment,  the  band  of  the 
16th  Conn.  Vol.  struck  up  and  played  a  few  patriotic  airs,  to  ani- 
mate and  encourage  thesoldiers'hearts  for  the  approaching  struggle. 

Presently  the  music  ceases ;  and  although  it  was  dangerous, 
yet  fearing  no  evil,  I  was  not  afraid  as,  though  unconscious 
of  danger,  I  stood  undismayed  amidst  whistling  bullets, 
balls,  and  shells,  while  all  around  me  dodged  and  juked  be- 
hind the  breastworks.  By  this  time  (little  after  dark),  all  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  65 

Artillery  on  both  sides,  and  our  gunboats  on  the  river,  were 
brought  into  action,  and  the  fierce  conflict  now  presented  a  scene 
brilliant  and  grand.  Graced  with  the  silver  light  of  the  full 
.noon  shining  brightly,  dimmed  only  by  the  smoke  of  battle, 
and  eager  for  victory,  there  they  fought  for  some  three  hours 
with  perfect  desperation.  The  long  sheet  of  fame  issuing  from 
the  rebel  lines  in  front,  and  the  heavy  storm  of  balls  and  shells 
bursting  forth  from  our  artillery  and  the  gunboats,  filling  the  air 
with  balls,  shells,  and  burning  fuses,  together  with  the  groans  of 
the  wounded  and  dying,  presented  a  scene  awfully  terrible,  grand, 
and  sublime.  Men  who  had  been  through  the  Peninsula  cam- 
paign said,  for  awfulness,  grandeur,  and  glory,  it  excelled  any- 
thing they  had  seen.  Finding,  with  a  heavy  loss,  after  a  long, 
persistent  attempt,  their  efforts  to  storm  our  works  and  take  the 
town  proved  unsuccessful,  and  feeling  that  our  fire  was  too  hot 
for  them,  they  abandoned  the  fight  for  the  night,  to  renew  it 
again  with  increased  vigor. 

Meanwhile,  an  assault  had  been  made  upon  Fort  Wessels,  a 
small  detached  work  lying  about  a  mile  to  the  right  front,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Chapin,  85th  N.  Y.  Vol.,  who,  with  a  handful 
of  heroic  men,  bravely  repulsed  heavy  charges  of  the  desperate 
odds  of  a  brigade,  frequently  driving  them  back  with  the  bayo- 
net and  hand-grenades,  until  their  ammunition  gave  out,  and  the 
brave,  noble-hearted  captain,  receiving  a  mortal  wound,  was 
overpowered,  and  finally  compelled  to  surrender,  having,  it  was 
said,  killed  nearly  as  many  rebels  as  he  commanded  men.  He 
died  soon  after.  Peace  be  to  his  ashes.  Encouraged  by  the  cap- 
ture of  this  fort,  the  enemy  now  sent  in  a  staff-officer,  under  a 
flag  of  truce,  and  demanded  a  surrender  of  the  garrison.  This, 
of  course,  was  peremptorily  refused,  notwithstanding  a  rebel 
force  of  some  fifteen  thousand  was  said  to  confront  us. 


SEVERE  NAVAL  FIGHT. 

Very  early  Tuesday  morning,  just  after  the  setting  of  the 
moon,  embracing  the  darkness  of  the  hour,  the  iron-clad  rebel 
ram  Albemarle  came  floating  quietly  down  the  Roanoke  River, 
5 


66  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  passed  Fort  Gray  (receiving  a  few  shots)  and  our  200- 
pounder  at  Plymouth  almost  unobserved ;  and  approaching  our 
little  fleet  of  wooden  gunboats,  she  ran  into  the  Southfield,  com- 
manded by  Lieut.  French,  as  she  lay  tied  to  the  Miami,  and 
soon  she  began  gradually  to  sink.  Lieut.  Flusser,  the  brave 
commander  of  the  fleet,  soon  began  to  move  upon  the  iron-clad 
with  the  Miami,  endeavoring  to  sink  her ;  and  while  the  ill-fated 
Southfield  was  gradually  sinking,  she  was  taking  the  Albemarle 
down  with  her.  During  this  time,  a  most  severe  hand-to-hand 
fight  was  going  on  between  the  rebel  crew  and  our  seamen.  Thirst- 
ing for  victory,  Flusser  commanded  a  gun  himself;  but,  most 
unfortunately  for  the  fleet  and  the  garrison  on  shore,  he  was 
struck  by  a  ball  rebounding  from  the  Albemarle,  discharged  from 
his  own  gun,  and  fell  mortally  wounded  on  the  deck  of  his  own 
ship,  with  the  lanyard  in  his  hand,  and  soon  after  expired.  "The 
command  now  devolved  upon  Lieut.  French,  who  left  his  sink- 
ing ship,"  says  Lieut.  Longnecker,  "and  sprang  aboard  the 
Miami,  and  sailed  down  the  river,  whereupon  the  Albemarle 
was  enabled  to  withdraw  from  the  sinking  Southfield,  and  she 
came  to  the  surface  with  three  feet  of  water  in  her  hold,  coming 
very  nigh  sinking.  But  the  unfortunate  Southfield  went  down, 
and,"  continues  Lieut.  Longnecker,  "more  than  one  hundred 
brave  but  deserted  sailors  were  left  to  go  down  with  her,  and 
find  a  watery  grave  on  the  decks  where  they  so  bravely  fought 
for  their  country."  Some  were  fired  upon  by  the  hard-hearted 
rebels  while  attempting  to  swim  ashore,  calling  for  quarter. 
Says  the  same  lieutenant,  "Their  drowning  cries  could  be 
distinctly  heard  from  where  I  stood.  Only  a  few  escaped." 
When  day  dawned,  the  Albemarle,  now  to  us  "the  terror  of  the 
seas,"  was  seen  sailing  about  in  the  river  below,  and  nothing 
but  the  smoke-stack  and  pilot-house  of  the  Southfield  could  be 
seen.  Thus  deprived  of  our  invaluable  gunboats,  and  cut  off 
from  all  possibility  of  reinforcements,  the  unwelcome  prospect 
•of  a  rebel  prison  began  to  stare  us  in  the  face.  Yet  "  none  of 
tLese  things  moved  me." 

Nothing  special  occurred  during  Tuesday  but  frequent  firing 
aud  shelling  from  Fort  \Vessels  and  the  Albemarle,  from  which, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  67 

to  screen  themselves,  the  men  constructed  bomb-proofs.  I  found 
it  no  trouble  to  dodge  a  cannon-ball  discharged  a  mile  distant. 
Passing  along  the  lines,  I  found  the  men,  though  fatigued,  of 
good  courage,  and  ready  for  more  fight.  It  was  astonishing  to 
see  what  desolation  the  rebel  ram  had  wrought  at  Compiler  re- 
doubt. But  there  were  five  companies  of  the  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Compher,  all  still  unterrified.  This  was  the 
evening  before  the  capture  next  morning. 

THE   LAST   STRUGGLE. 

Toward  Tuesday  evening,  the  rebels  were  seen  moving  and 
massing  their  forces  on  our  left  to  assault  the  town  at  our  weak- 
est point ;  and  about  midnight  they  opened  a  brisk  cannonade 
on  our  picket-line,  near  Canoby  bridge,  to  which  our  men  spi- 
ritedly replied ;  but,  after  a  most  desperate  contest,  were  by  over- 
whelming numbers  overpowered,  and  compelled  to  give  way. 
They  fell  back  fighting,  gallantly  contending  for  the  ground  inch 
by  inch. 

Here  David  Fisher,  Co.  H,  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  was  killed ;  two 
more  mortally  and  several  others  severely  wounded.  We  were  now 
in  "the  last  ditch;"  for  a  few  hours  before,  all  was  compara- 
tively quiet;  but  it  was  a  quiet  that  precedes  the  storm,  for  about 
daylight,  artillery  opened  along  the  rebel  lines — it  would  seem  as  a 
signal  for  a  general  assault — and  in  a  few  minutes  more,  a  whole 
brigade,  led  by  Gen.  Ransom,  furiously  charged  on  us  on  the  left, 
defended  mainly  by  the  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  commanded  by  Lieut- 
Col.  A.  W.  Taylor,  concentrating  their  main  force  on  Compher 
redoubt,  commanded  by  Capt.  Compher  of  the  101st  Pa.  Vol., 
who,  with  five  companies  of  his  own  regiment  and  part  of  a  com- 
pany of  the  2d  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  most  bravely  defended  it  to 
the  uttermost  against  overwhelming  odds,  until  the  rebels,  rush- 
ing in,  compelled  them  to  give  away.  The  rebels  now  rushe:! 
into  town,  and  our  men  forming  again  gave  them  battle  in 
street  after  street,  repulsing  them  at  different  points;  and  thu? 
bravely  contended  for  their  old  quarters  to  the  very  last.  It- 
this  severe  conflict  six  of  our  horses  were  shot  down  on  a  caisson 


68  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

in  quick  succession.  It  was  now  about  sunrise,  Wednesday, 
April  20,  1864;  and  the  enemy,  having  got  possession  of  the 
town,  pillaged  the  houses,  robbed  the  stores,  and  took  several 
hundred  prisoners,  I  among  the  rest,  who  were  marched  over 
the  rebel  dead  lying  around  Compher  redoubt,  and  on  the  left, 
some  two  miles  down  the  Columbia  road.  The  loyal  North 
Carolinians  and  colored  troops,  after  fighting  nobly,  and  seeing 
that  all  hope  of  successful  defence  was  gone,  and  well  knowing 
their  awful  fate  if  captured,  fled  to  the  adjoining  swamps.  But 
our  forces  still  held  part  of  our  works.  Gen.  Wessels,  with  the 
103d  Pa.  Vol.,  commanded  by  Col.  Leghman,  and  a  company 
of  2d  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  and  part  of  the  16th  Conn.,  still 
held  Fort  Williams,  and  over  it  our  dear  old  flag  still  waved 
in  all  its  glory.  Gazing  upon  it  then  and  there,  surrounded  with 
hosts  of  rampant  rebels,  as  we  marched  out  of  town,  prisoners 
of  war,  it  seemed  peculiarly  dear  and  precious.  An  irregular 
engagement  took  place  between  the  rebel  sharpshooters  and  our 
forces  in  and  about  Fort  Williams,  amidst  which  Gen.  Wessels 
stood  calm  and  serene.  A  short  truce  followed,  when  terms  of 
surrender  were  proposed,  which  our  general  refused,  and  firing 
was  again  resumed.  No  further  advantage  was  gained  by  either 
side  until  about  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  when  our  flag  was  very 
reluctantly  lowered,  and  the  place  surrendered. 

Thus  ended  the  siege.  Gen.  Wessels,  with  a  force  of  eighteen 
hundred  men,  defended  the  place  for  nearly  three  days  against  a 
rebel  force  of  some  fifteen  thousand.  The  rebel  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  was  estimated  at  about  fifteen  hundred  ;  ours  at  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five.  The  101st  Pa.  Vol.  had  twenty-one 
privates  and  two  officers  wounded,  and  five  privates  killed.  The 
103d  Pa.  Vol.  had  sixteen  privates  and  two  officers  wounded, 
and  one  lieutenant  killed.  The  85th  N.  Y.  Vol.  had  twenty-one 
privates  and  one  officer  wounded,  and  ten  privates  and  one  captain 
killed.  The  16th  Conn,  had  some  twelve  or  fourteen  privates 
wounded ;  killed,  unknown.  The  N.  Y.  Cavalry  had  one  officer 
and  one  sergeant  wounded. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  69 


MASSACRE   AT   PLYMOUTH. 

"  During  the  whole  afternoon  after  the  surrender,"  says  Lieut. 
J.  H.  Longnecker,  adjutant  of  the  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  a  very  reliable 
man,  "  we  could  hear  the  sharp  crack  of  rebel  rifles  along  the 
swamps,  where  they  were  hunting  down  the  colored  troops  and 
loyal  North  Carolinians.  '  I  cannot  say  that  the  latter  were  shot, 
but  the  former  were  shot  down  wherever  found.  They  were 
massacred  after  the  surrender."  I  heard  a  rebel  colonel  say, 
with  an  oath,  "  That  they  intended  to  shoot  every  '  buffalo?  i.e. 
(North  Carolinian)  and  negro  they  found .  in  our  uniform ;  and, 
as  far  as  I  know,  they  managed  to  redeem  the  promise."  For 
two  days  after  the  surrender,  I  heard  very  frequent  firing  in  an 
adjoining  swamp,  and  I  always  believed  they  were  shooting  our 
men.  The  Richmond  Dispatch,  quoting  from  the  Philadelphia 
Inquirer,  speaking  of  this  awful  tragedy,  says,  "  Two  full  com- 
panies of  the  2d  N.  C.  Union  (colored)  Vol.  were  among  the 
captured ;  the  most  of  whom  were  led  out  and  shot  by  the  enemy 
after  surrendering." 

RAVAGES   OF  THE   FIGHT. 

After  returning  from  below,  we  were  marched  about  a  mile 
out  the  Washington  road,  where  our  captured  host  quartered  the 
first  night  after  the  fall,  before  starting  to  our  destined  prisons. 
Through  the  kindness  of  a  rebel  major,  I  got  permission  to 
return  to  town  for  my  satchel,  and  on  entering  my  room  found 
everything  topsy-turvy.  My  diary  was  torn  up ;  several  of 
my  most  valuable  devotional  books  gone.  Library  scattered, 
desk  broken,  trunk  broken  open  and  rifled,  the  house-floor  torn 
up,  papers,  tracts,  and  letters  scattered,  coats,  shirts,  pants, 
blankets,  satchel,  Bible,  sermons  all  gone,  and  everything  in  a 
state  of  perfect  desolation.  I  filled  my  trunk  with  the  scattered 
books  and  left  them  with  Mr.  Latham,  an  old  resident,  who  le^ 
a  rebel  officer  carry  them  off.  I  never  saw  nor  heard  of  them 
afterward.  Here,  in  this  room,  I  pointed  the  anxious  soldier  to 
Christ ;  and  here  in  this  room,  while  rebel  shot  and  shell  were 
pouring  into  the  town  for  our  destruction,  my  prayers  ascended  to 


70  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

God  for  our  defence  and  protection.  Going  up  into  Col.  Taylor's 
room,  I  picked  up  an  old  Bible,  which  I  carried  through  Libby, 
used  during  the  war,  and  brought  it  home  for  daily  use.  With 
stores  and  houses  plundered,  buildings  demolished,  riddled  with 
balls  and  shell ;  with  the  gunboats  sunk  and  swept  away ;  with 
the  hospitals  crowded  with  wounded,  the  streets  strewn  with 
the  dead  and  dying,  and  the  dear  old  flag  lowered,  North  Caro- 
linians and  negroes  massacred,  and  bereaved  widows  mourning 
for  their  husbands,  and  weeping  because  they  were  not,  fallen 
Plymouth  now  presented  a  scene  of  horrible  desolation  and  dis- 
tress. 

VISITING    THE   WOUNDED. 

During  our  stay  at  Plymouth,  after  the  capture,  surgeons  and 
chaplains  had  the  privilege  of  visiting  the  wounded.  Several  of 
our  wounded  were  put  in  the  same  hospital  with  theirs.  On  one 
occasion  I  went  in  to  see  three  of  our  men  lying  crowded  in  a 
room  with  theirs,  and  while  conversing  with  and  pointing  them 
to  Christ,  a  small,  wounded  North  Carolinian  boy,  who  seemed 
to  be  in  deep  anguish,  beckoned  me  to  come  to  him ;  and  as  I 
approached  him,  he  put  out  his  feeble  hand,  grasped  mine,  and 
earnestly  said,  "  Will  you  please  pray  for  me  ?  "  I  knelt  by  his 
side,  asked  God  to  lead  him  to  repentance,  forgive  his  sins,  and 
save  his  soul.  He  thanked  me  most  heartily.  The  approach  of 
death  seemed  to  knock  the  spirit  of  rebellion  out  of  him.  He 
seemed  very  tender,  penitent,  and  anxious  to  be  saved.  The 
scene  was  solemn  and  impressive.  Bidding  him  farewell,  I  said 
to  him,  "  Trust  in  the  Lord,  and  prepare  to  meet  thy  God."  He 
died  soon  after.  This  was  in  the  officer's  messroom  of  the  101st  Pa. 
Vol.,  where  we  formerly  passed  many  a  lively  joke,  and  enjoyed 
many  a  social  confab.  How  changed  is  all  now  !  Here,  where 
we  cracked  jokes  and  ate  crackers,  now  lie  dying  rebels,  bleeding 
soldiers,  and  heroic  wounded  patriots  dying  for  their  country. 
At  the  request  of  one  of  our  mortally-wounded  heroes,  lying  in 
another  hospital  amidst  some  forty  rebels,  I  preached,  sung,  and 
prayed,  and,  with  close  attention,  the  meeting  was  deeply  solemn 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  71 

*nd  interesting.     I  counted  hundreds  of  rebel  wounded  quartered 
in  the  largest  houses  in  Plymouth. 

In  visiting  a  large  hospital  down  on  "Water  Street,  I  found 
P.  B.  Mortimer,  Co.  F.,  103d  Pa.  Vol.,  mortally  wounded  in 
the  abdomen.  Upon  canvassing  his  heart,  I  found  him,  though 
conscious  of  approaching  death,  composed  and  tender,  trusting  in 
the  Lord,  and  resigned  to  his  fate.  Although  suffering  severely, 
and  with  death  staring  him  in  the  face,  he  gave  no  signs  of  fear 
or  complaint.  Having  fought  a  "good  fight,"  and  now  about 
finishing  his  course,  he  seemed  to  be  waiting  to  receive  a  crown 
of  righteousness  laid  up  for  him.  Bidding  him  a  long  farewell, 
we  parted  to  meet  no  more  until  the  trumpet  of  God  shall  sound, 
summoning  us  to  judgment. 


CHAPTER  V. 

GOING    TO     LIBBY. 

ORDER  :  "  BE  READY  TO  START  FOR  RICHMOND  To  -  MORROW  MORN- 
ING AT  FOUR"  —  SAIL  UP  THE  ROANOKE  TO  HALIFAX  —  TAKE 
CARS  —  ENTER  LIBBY  WITH  LOUD  SHOUTS  OF  "FRESH  FISH! 
FRESH  FISH!"  —  THEY  TOOK  OUR  MONEY  —  LIFE  IN  LIBBY  — 
ALL  SORTS  OF  THINGS  GOING  ON  —  VERY  HARD  PLACE  —  PREACH 
TO  THE  PRISONERS  —  BIG  CONGREGATION — VISITED  THE  HOSPITAL — 
NOT  ALLOWED  TO  PREACH  TO  THE  SICK  — RELEASED  — FAREWELL 

.  TO  LIBBY — THE  EXCHANGE — WE  CHEERED  THE  DEAR  OLD 
FLAG  —  REBELS  HANDLE  OITR  MEN  VERY  ROUGHLY  —  BELLE 
ISLE  —  U.  S.  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  ANNAPOLIS,  MD.  —  LABORS  IN, 
ETC. 

HAVING  spent  some  three  days  in  captivity  at  Plymouth, 
about  11  o'clock,  Friday  night,  orders  came  to  our  quarters, 
"  Be  ready  to  start  for  Richmond  by  four  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning."  Now  came  the  trial  of  leaving  our  wounded,  whom, 
though  apparently  quite  well  provided  with  provisions,  sur- 
geons, and  nurses,  it  was  hard  to  leave.  Bidding  them  fare- 
well, and  gathering  up  a  few  scattered  books,  blankets,  etc.,  with 


72  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Gen.  Wessels,  his  staff,  and  a  few  other  officers,  nineteen  in  all, 
we  were  marched  down  to  the  river  before  day,  and  got  aboard 
an  old  tug-boat,  and  in  a  short  time  we  bid  good-by  to  Ply- 
mouth, and  set  sail  up  the  beautiful  Roanoke,  under  command 
of  a  wounded  rebel  major.  Our  fare  was  tolerably  respectable. 
They  furnished  us  two  colored  servants  to  wait  on  us,  and  pre- 
pare our  meals.  Being  without  any,  we  made  wooden  knives 
and  forks  to  eat  with.  Sailing  up  the  river,  we  were  the  object 
of  all  gazers.  Having  reached  Halifax,  we  left  our  old  tug, 
and  took  the  cars  for  Richmond,  and  reached  there  early  Monday 
morning.  Having  registered  our  names  at  the  provost-marshal's 
office,  we  were  marched  down  to  Libby,  and  were  jocosely 
received  by  the  inmates  with  loud  shouts  of  "  Fresh  fish !  fresh 
fish  ! "  As  we  went  in,  Major  Turner,  the  prison-keeper,  searched 
us  for  arms,  registered  our  names  and  rank,  and  took  our  money. 
One  of  our  men  gave  him  six  hundred  dollars.  But,  to  our  great 
surprise,  they  refunded  the  money  again.  For  this,  we  give  them 
due  credit. 

LIFE  IN  LIBBY. 

Libby  prison  is  a  large  three-story  brick  building,  one  hundred 
and  twenty  by  eighty  feet,  formerly  occupied  by  "  Libby  &  Son, 
ship-chandlers  and  grocers."  It  contained,  when  we  were  there, 
nine  hundred  and  thirty  captured  officers,  ranking  from  the 
brigadier  -  general  down  to  first  lieutenant.  Sometimes  the 
number  rose  to  twelve  or  thirteen  hundred.  Some  had  been 
there,  enduring  all  the  hardships  and  deprivations,  for  twelve 
or  fifteen  months.  With  very  scant,  poor,  rough,  and  unwhole- 
some diet,  with  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  crowded  into  a 
room,  with  no  glass  in  the  windows,  and  no  beds  but  a  blanket 
each  man  had  the  good  fortune  to  provide  himself,  it  was  a  very 
hard,  miserable  place.  And  yet  with  all  these  deprivations,  with 
buoyant  spirits  and  patriotic  hearts,  the  men  seemed  to  get  along 
and  look  better  than  we  would  naturally  suppose.  Every 
morning  there  was  a  general  skirmish  and  severe  fight  with  the 
invading  hosts  of  "  graybacks." 

The  emplovment  in  Libby  was  various.     What  did  they  do 


CHKISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  73 

there  ?  How  did  the  captured  patriots  spend  the  long,  wearisome 
months  in  captivity  ?  From  splendid  portrait  painting  down  to 
card  playing,  they  had  a  great  variety  of  exercises.  The  men 
were  usually  divided  off  into  small  squads  "or  messes.  Every 
man  had  his  own  quarter  and  sleeping-place  on  the  floor,  though 
densely  crowded  all  around  him.  Walk  around,  and  see :  There 
you  see  a  man  with  his  slate  and  pencil  studying  arithmetic ; 
there  is  another  at  geography ;  there  is  another  writing  home  to 
his  friends.  A  little  farther  on,  you  see  two  men  busily  engaged 
in  making  a  wooden  clock ;  and  then,  off  to  one  side,  you  see  a 
small  squad  playing  cards  or  chess  to  kill  time.  Approach  that 
table,  and  there  you  see  an  Italian  portrait  painter  minutely 
drawing  the  features  and  expression  of  a  dark-eyed  major.  Twice 
a  day  we  were  all  made  to  pass  through  a  narrow  door,  and 
counted  one  by  one,  by  the  guard,  in  order  to  be  sure  no  one  had 
escaped.  While  thus  dragging  out  a  life  so  intolerable  in  these 
wretched  abodes,  our  unterrified  men  were  fighting  the  battles  of 
our  country  on  the  field.  Some  of  the  prisoners  often  received 
boxes  from  home,  and  thus  procured  something  respectable  to 
eat.  I  took  tea  with  a  kind  friend  one  evening,  and  our  fare 
was  respectable,  considering.  There  was  a  stove  and  fuel  for 
cooking,  and  soap  for  washing.  The  fare  was  a  small  ration  of 
very  rough,  coarse  corn- bread  and  a  few  worm-eaten  black  peas. 
The  Eichmond  daily  papers  were  brought  in  for  sale  every 
morning.  With  this  daily  routine,  it  was  a  hard  way  of  serving 
our  country.  They  had  lectures,  debates,  etc.,  to  break  the  dull 
monotony. 

PREACHING   IN  LIBBY. 

I  had  not  been  long  jwithin  the  massive  walls  of  that  terrible 
place  until  they  found  out  I  was  a  chaplain,  and  invited  me  to 
preach.  A  room  was  selected,  an  hour  appointed,  and  the  people 
invited ;  Bible  and  hymn-books  procured,  and,  at  the  appointed 
time,  we  met  in  the  name  of  Him  who  said,  "  Lo,  I  am  with 
you  always ! "  and  we  had  a  very  large,  attentive  congregation 
and  a  solemn,  interesting  meeting.  I  chose  for  the  text  God's 
precious,  encouraging  promise  to  Moaea  and  the  children  of  Israel, 


74  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

when  they  were  in  troubles  and  trials,  journeying  through  the 
wilderness  to  Canaan,  "  My  presence  shall  go  with  thee,  and  I  will 
give  thee  rest."  (Ex.  xxxiii.  14.)  God's  presence,  essential  and 
gracious,  and  the  rest  it  affords.  GOD  is  PRESENT,  that,  though 
prisoners  of  war,  shut  up  in  this  stronghold  in  the  rebel  capital, 
yet  the  "  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us,"  "  God  is  our  refuge  and 
strength,  a  very  present  help  in  trouble/'  that  Jesus  Christ  is  here, 
waiting  to  be  gracious,  waiting  to  sustain,  guide,  guard,  comfort, 
and  save  us.  Though  encompassed  with  the  strong  rebel  guard, 
yet  God  was  with  us,  and  it  was  good  to  be  there.  The  next 
day  but  one,  I  preached  again  on  the  attractions  of  the  cross ; 
and  many  were  drawn  together,  and  seemed  by  Christ's  con- 
straining love  to  draw  very  near  to  God ;  and  the  congregation 
was  much  larger  and  the  services  more  solemn  and  impressive. 
Some  of  the  Richmond  clergy  came  in  and  preached  occasionally, 
until  one  spoke  contemptibly  of  our  flag,  and  he  could  never 
get  a  hearing  afterward.  The  people  seemed  to  be  hungering 
for  the  gospel,  and  anxious  to  hear  preaching.  Libby  was  a  good, 
promising  field  for  preaching,  and  therefore,  with  all  its  hardness 
and  deprivations,  I  regretted,  in  some  respects,  to  leave  it. 


LIBBY  HOSPITAL. 

The  hospital,  containing  some  forty  patients,  was  down  in  the 
lower  story  of  the  same  building.  Through  the  permission  of  Major 
Turner,  accompanied  by  a  guard,  I  went  down  to  see  the  patients, 
and  having  encouraged  the  hearts  of  the  sickest  ones  and  pointed 
them  to  Christ,  besought  them,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  to  come 
to  Jesus,  and  "  be  of  good  cheer."  At  their  request  I  consented 
to  stay,  take  supper,  and  preach  for  them  that  evening ;  but  the 
hard-hearted  major  would  not  allow  it,  and  I  had  to  go  back  to 
my  own  place,  with  the  guard,  before  dark.  The  sick  fared  better 
than  the  well.  They  had  bunks,  mattresses,  pillows,  etc.,  but  all 
were  so  awful  dirty,  that  it  was  enough  to  make  a  man  sick  to  sleep 
on  them.  There  were  but  few  very  bad  cases. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAE.  75 

FAREWELL   TO   LIBBY. 

During  my  short  stay  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  many  noble, 
generous,  patriotic  fellows,  whom  I  regretted  very  much  to  leave 
incarcerated  in  that  horrible  place  of  torment.  But  now  having 
witnessed  something  of  the  panorama  of  prison-life  in  Libby, 
right  beneath  the  frown  of  "  old  Jeff,"  and  having  shared  in 
their  sorrows  and  trials,  early  Saturday  morning  orders  came 
"  for  all  chaplains,  surgeons,  and  some  twenty-five  others,  to  get 
ready  to  start  for  the  flag-of-truce  boat."  As  the  list  of  ex- 
changed officers  was  read  out,  all  stood  with  profound  silence, 
every  one  with  intense  anxiety  waiting  to  hear  his  own  name 
called.  By  hurrying,  we  soon  got  ready,  and,  hastening  down- 
stairs, stood  in  double  file  in  front  of  the  prison,  waiting  "march- 
ing orders,"  with  the  prison  windows  densely  crowded  with 
anxious  hearts  witnessing  our  departure;  and  as  we  started, 
many  exclaimed,  "Good-by,  chaplain  —  good-by,  chaplain," 
and  with  a  hearty  response,  and  with  a  falling  tear,  commending 
them  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  we  bade  them  farewell,  sorrowing 
most  of  all  to  leave  them  in  their  forlorn,  suffering  condition. 
On  reaching  the  boat,  we  found  it  heavily  loaded  and  densely 
crowded  with  some  three  hundred  and  fifty  half-starved  Union 
prisoners  from  Bell  Isle  and  Richmond.  Many  of  them  were  mere 
skeletons,  and  pale  as  death  from  disease  and  starvation.  On 
arriving  upon  the  boat,  they  gave  us  small  rations  of  good  wheat 
bread  and  a  kind  of  briny  soup,  which,  not  suiting  my  taste,  I 
threw  into  the  river;  but  the  wheat  bread  tasted  very  well, 
after  living  so  long  on  coarse  corn  and  the  hard,  scanty  fare  in 
Libby. 

THE  EXCHANGE. 

On  arriving  at  City  Point,  the  place  of  exchange,  we  again 
beheld  our  dear  old  flag,  and  cheered  it  heartily.  What  a 
change  from  the  rebel  to  the  Union  flag !  from  Libby  prison 
to  the  sweet  air  of  liberty,  sailing  down  the  flowing  tide  of 
the  beautiful  James.  It  was  like  emerging  from  darkness  to 
light.  As  we  stepped  off  their  boat  into  ours,  we  felt  as  though 
a  heavy  burden  had  rolled  from  our  backs. 


76  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

And  now  began  the  exchange  of  the  poor  suffering  soldiers. 
While  their  men,  fresh  from  our  prisons,  looked  stout  and  rugged 
and  well-fed,  nearly  all  ours  looked  pale,  weak,  and  half  starved 
to  death.  And  how  shocking  to  see  how  awfully  rough  they 
handled  our  men.  I  could  but  weep  to  see  them  toss  them 
about  almost  like  dead  hogs.  It  was  most  cruel.  Laboring 
hard,  I  did  what  I  could  to  comfort  the  poor  fellows  while  going 
to  Annapolis :  I  begged  bread  from  the  cook,  and  fed  the  most 
hungry.  I  preached  and  prayed  writh  them,  pointed  them  to 
the  Saviour,  and  tried  to  comfort  them  with  the  consolations  of 
the  gospel.  Sailing  down  the  river,  and  it  being  the  Sabbath- 
day,  at  the  request  of  Col.  Beech,  I  gave  them  a  short  sermon  in 
the  cabin. 

Touching  at  Fortress  Monroe,  we  sailed  up  the  broad  Chesa- 
peake Bay  to  Annapolis,  Md.,  where  our  half-starved,  sick,  and 
dying  patriots  were  taken  to  the  hospital  and  well  cared  for ;  and 
all  the  officers  were  granted  twenty  days'  leave  of  absence  to  go 
home.  But  I  chose  to  remain  and  labor  "for  the  welfare  of 
the  poor  suffering  soldiers."  Having  registered  my  name,  and 
supplied  myself  with  a  little  necessary  clothing,  and  being  re- 
freshed with  a  good  night's  sleep,  after  writing  out  a  brief  sketch 
of  the  fall  of  Plymouth  for  a  New  York  paper,  we  started  out 
in  search  of  the  hospital,  to  see  how  those  suffering  soldiers  were 
faring.  And  upon  entering  one  of  the  wards  of  the  naval 
hospital,  my  attention  was  drawn  to  a  half-starved,  fine-looking 
soldier,  for  whom  we  had  begged  bread  on  the  boat  two  days 
before,  now  struggling  in  the  agonies  of  death,  soothed  by  the 
tender  affection  of  two  kind  lady  -  nurses.  How  solemn  the 
scene !  Gaze  upon  the  brave  soldier,  now  fighting  his  last  battle, 
dying  for  his  country  !  See  how  he  struggles !  the  conflict 
rages ;  the  soul  clings  to  its  clay  tenement ;  death  presses  his 
claims ;  frail  nature  gives  way ;  reason  is  dethroned ;  and  it  is 
now  too  late  to  inquire  into  his  spiritual  condition,  —  but  the 
calm  smile  resting  upon  his  noble  brow,  the  manifest  submissive 
spirit,  together  with  his  serene  countenance,  seemed  to  tell  that 
he  was  getting  the  victory  over  the  last  enemy  !  There  he  lies  . 
time  flies ;  life  ebbs  away ;  he  gasps,  struggles,  and,  though  he 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  77 

seemed  to  die  easy,  yet  the  twitching  of  his  face  evinced  that  he 
felt  the  pain  of  dying  !  He  breathes  on,  till,  presently,  the  wheel 
at  the  cistern  stands  still,  and  his  immortal  spirit,  washed  ii. 
Christ's  blood,  we  trust,  went  home  to  God ! 

UNITED  STATES  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  ANNAPOLIS,  MD. 

And  now,  looking  around  us,  we  found  ourselves  in  one  of  tht 
finest  hospitals  in  the  country.  Occupying  the  neat,  comfortable 
buildings  and  beautiful  grounds  of  the  U.  S.  Naval  School,  and 
washed  by  the  swelling  tide  of  the  pure  water  of  Chesapeake 
Bay,  it  is  most  delightfully  situated,  and  enjoying  the  sweet, 
refreshing  breeze  rolling  up  from  the  "old  ocean/'  and  sur- 
rounded with  a  salubrious  atmosphere,  rendered  it  very  con- 
ducive to  the  health  and  comfort  of  the  patients.  Superintended 
by  the  discriminating  and  exacting  Dr.  Vanderkeiff,  Assistant 
Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  everything  was  carried  on  with  good  order. 
Well  supplied  with  surgeons  and  a  good  corps  of  faithful  lady- 
matrons,  and  good  rations,  the  patients  fared  very  well. 

With  a  good  chapel,  organ,  and  choir,  we  had  a  good  attentive 
congregation  and  very  interesting  prayer-meetings.  With  a  very 
large,  well-selected  library  and  a  good  supply  of  papers,  the 
patients  were  very  well  supplied  with  reading  matter. 

Yet,  with  all  these  comforts  and  appliances,  they  could  not 
keep  death  out  of  the  camp.  In  spite  of  all  their  skill  and 
attention,  "  the  king  of  terrors  "  would  invade  their  thick  brick 
walls  and  tent  wards  and  pluck  off  his  victims  daily.  To  see 
the  brave  heroes  drop  off,  and  four  or  five  consigned  to  the  tomb 
in  a.day,  was,  to  one  not  accustomed  to  such  rapid  mortality, 
deeply  impressive.  Here  we  met  with  a  kind  and  generous 
friend  in  the  laborious  Chaplain  H.  C.  Henries,  U.S.A.,  at 
whose  request  we  took  charge  of  the  religious  work  of  the  hospital 
during  his  absence  East.  And  now  there  opened  before  us  a  fine 
field  for  Christian  effort.  Preaching,  visiting  the  patients,  and 
burying  the  dead,  kept  us  very  busy  all  the  time.  And,  with- 
out time  to  particularize  minutely,  we  had  many  very  interesting 
cases  and  interviews  with  the  patients,  and  here  we  formed  many 


78  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

BELLE  ISLE. 

Hard  by  Libby  was  the  cruel  Belle  Isle,  a  prison  for  cruelty 
more  severe  than  Libby,  situated  on  an  island  in  the  James 
River,  opposite  Richmond,  on  a  low,  sandy,  barren  waste,  where 
the  prisoners  were  exposed  to  severe  heat  in  summer  and  ex- 
treme cold  in  winter.  Here  the  rebels  practised  cruelties  upon 
our  unfortunate  soldiers  in  a  manner  almost  impossible  to  describe. 
With  but  a  few  ragged  tents,  about  one-half  of  the  men  had  no 
shelter  at  all.  It  was  my  privilege  to  labor  for  and  preach  to  a 
boat-load  of  some  three  hundred  and  fifty  men  from  this  place 
of  torment ;  and  such  a  half-starved,  distressed  appearance  as 
they  presented,  was  enough  to  make  an  angel  weep.  With  eyes 
sunken,  hair  dishevelled,  countenances  pale  and  wan,  and  reduced 
to  skin  and  bones,  they  looked  more  like  walking  skeletons 
than  living  men. 

To  hear  them  relate  their  hardships,  deprivations,  and  suffer- 
ings  was  truly  heart  -  rending.  There,  they  told  me,  "  many 
starved  to  death,  and  many  froze  to  death."  One  day  a  dog  ran 
into  camp,  they  said,  and  he  was  quickly  snatched  up,  killed, 
skinned,  and  devoured  by  the  prisoners  with  the  appetite  of  a 
vulture.  I  have  now  in  my  possession  a  ration  of  corn-bread 
given  me  over  five  years  ago  by  one  of  those  half-starved  fellows 
as  we  sailed  from  Richmond  to  Annapolis ;  it  is  less  than  two 
inches  square,  and  less  than  an  inch  thick.  This,  with  a  gill  of 
rye  coffee  in  the  morning  and  a  gill  of  soup  in  the  evening,  twice 
a  day,  was  all  they  had  to  sustain  life.  "  Sometimes  some  of  them 
got  a  mouthful  of  meat."  Having  there  dragged  out  a  life  more 
intolerable  than  death  itself,  in  this  horrible  place,  many  of  them 
were  sent  down  to  Annapolis  to  die.  But  a  day  of  retribution 
awaits  those  unmerciful  oppressors  and  tyrants.  Yes,  it  has 
already  come  upon  them.  Less  than  a  year  after,  Richmond, 
the  stronghold  of  rebeldom  and  of  this  unparalleled  cruelty, 
was  wrapped  in  flames,  and  the  arch-traitor,  Jeff.  Davis,  driven 
from  his  throne,  caught,  manacled,  and  imprisoned.  "  The  way 
of  the  transgressor  is  hard.  Be  sure  your  sins  will  find  you  out." 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  79 


CHAPTER  VI. 

TJ.  S.  GENERAL   HOSPITAL,  FORTRESS   MONROE,  VA. 

LOCATION  FINE  —  BUILDINGS  SPLENDID  —  CHESAPEAKE  HOSPITAL  — 
BETHESDIAN  CHAPEL  —  INTERESTING  MEETINGS  —  READING-ROOM 
AND  LIBRARY  FOR  PATIENTS—  HAMPTON  HOSPITAL,  ORGANIZED 
1862  —  HEAD-QUARTERS  —  "  NEW  CAMP  "  —  CONTRABAND  HOSPITAL 

—  ALL  CONSOLIDATED  INTO  ONE  GENERAL  HOSPITAL  IN  1864  — 
CALLED  BY  THE  ABOVE  NAME  —  DISBANDED  IN  MARCH,  1866  — 
MANAGED  BY  DR.  ELI  MCCLELLAN,  ASSISTANT  SURGEON,  U.  S.  A. 

—  HOSPITAL  GARDEN  —  VERY  EXTENSIVE — TWENTY-FIVE  THOU- 
SAND HEAD  OF  CABBAGE— HOSPITAL  HENNERY — CAMP  DISTRIBUTION 

—  SOLDIERS  CAME  AND  WENT  BY  THOUSANDS  —  CHAPLAIN  MARSHALL 
PREACHED  TO   THEM  BY  NIGHT — MILITARY  PRISON  —  PREACHING 
TO   THE    SPIRITS   IN   PRISON  —  GANGRENE   CAMP  —  INTERESTING 
SCENES  — "  NONE  BUT   CHRIST"  —  ARRIVAL  OF  PATIENTS:    FROM 
Two  HUNDRED  TO  EIGHT  HUNDRED  A  DAY  —  TRANSFERRING  PA- 
TIENTS—VOYAGE TO  NEW  YORK  WITH  A  LOAD  OF  PATIENTS  — 
BIG  JOB  FOR  THE  CHAPLAIN  —  A  PATIENT  KISSED  MY  HAND — A 
WEEPING  MOTHER  AND  HARD-HEARTED  SURGEON  —  "  ALL  FAST  ON 
THE  POTOMAC." 

STANDING  off  Hampton  Roads,  some  two  miles  north  of 
^  the  fort,  is  the  old  Chesapeake  Seminary  building.  Built 
of  brick,  it  is  massive  and  substantial,  one  hundred  and  sixty  by 
sixty  feet,  six  stories  high,  and  well  devised.  With  grand  and  lofty 
columns,  and  a  towering  dome  surmounted  with  the  glorious 
"stars  and  stripes,"  and  overlooking  the  busy  fort,  Hamp- 
ton Hospital,  the  mouth  of  James  River,  and  the  long  lines 
of  ships  and  steamers  playing  therein,  it  is  most  beautiful 
for  situation.  Washed  by  the  swelling  tide,  and  fanned  by  the 
bland,  invigorating  breeze  of  the  ocean,  it  is  one  of  the  most 
pleasant  and  desirable  places  in  the  United  States.  Captured 
in  1861,  it  was  used  a  while  for  regimental  hospital  purposes,  and 
was  organized  into  a  United  States  general  hospital  in  March, 
1862,  by  Dr.  John  M.  Cuyler,  then  medical  director  at  the  fort. 
This  is  generally  known  as  Chesapeake  Hospital. 


80  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Having  spent  about  a  month,  immediately  after  my  release 
from  Libby  prison,  in  the  U.  S.  General  Hospital  at  Annapolis, 
Md.,  I  reported  in  person  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  who  gave  me, 
unasked,  under  his  own  signature,  a  leave  of  absence  for  twenty 
days.  But  not  wishing  to  go  home,  and  Fortress  Monroe  being 
the  head-quarters  of  the  department  to  which  I  belonged,  I  was 
afterward  ordered  to  report  there  for  duty.  Here  I  arrived 
June  1,  1864,  and  reported  to  Gen.  Butler,  and  was  ordered  to 
the  above  hospital  for  duty  the  next  day.  Here  I  met  the 
laborious  Chaplain  James  Marshall,  U.  S.  A.,  who  had  been 
laboring  here  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  our  brave  heroes  for 
some  two  years.  Through  his  persevering  efforts,  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  raising  funds  at  the  North,  and  had  erected  a  very  neat, 
comfortable  little  chapel,  hard  by  Camp  Distribution  and  close 
by  the  Chesapeake.  Here  the  chaplains,  delegates  of  the  U.  S. 
Christian  Commission,  visitors,  patients,  officers  and  soldiers, 
matrons  and  all,  met  from  time  "to  time;  and  we  often  enjoyed 
most  precious  seasons  of  refreshing.  Here  the  suffering  patients, 
after  lying  for  months  upon  their  wearisome  beds,  when  at  all 
able  to  get  out,  would  drag  their  crippled  limbs  and  mangled 
bodies,  on  crutches,  to  church  and  the  semiweekly  prayer-meet- 
ing, where  many  would  relate  their  religious  feelings  and  ex- 
perience with  deep  interest  and  powerful  effect.  Sometimes  the 
whole  congregation  would  rise  to  be  prayed  for.  Here  Chaplain 
Marshall  and  myself  labored  together,  and  for  some  three  months 
preached  in  turns,  and  I  always  found  it  good  to  be  there.  The 
pulpit  was  very  often  supplied  by  delegates  and  visitors.  Having 
no  organized  church,  the  converts  were  never  counted.  In  this 
main  building  I  quartered  and  boarded  till  mustered  out.  Close 
by  it  were  two  large  wooden  star-barracks  and  a  few  tents,  ac- 
commodating in  all  some  eight  hundred  patients. 

Mr.  Marshall  collected  a  valuable  and  well-assorted  library 
of  some  fifteen  hundred  volumes,  which,  together  with  a  great 
variety  of  pamphlets,  periodicals,  and  a  rich  supply  of  secular 
and  religious  papers  and  tracts,  made  a  very  interesting  reading- 
room.  Here  the  reader  could  always  find  on  file  "  The  Army 
and  Navy  Journal,"  and  the  daily  papers  from  all  parts  of  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  81 

country.  Here  the  soldiers  went,  read  the  news,  wrote  letters, 
and  obtained  books  as  they  chose.  The  reading-room  was  a  great 
light  among  the  patients.  It  was  in  connection  with  the  chapel. 
They  had  a  Sabbath-school  and  Bible-class  also.  This  hospital 
was  the  scene  of  much  severe  suffering,  of  many  prayers,  many 
tears,  many  deaths,  and  of  some  very  striking  conversions.  Here 
many  a  sick  and  wounded  officer  and  soldier,  after  suffering  for 
months  most  severely,  was  at  last  relieved  by  death,  and  laid  in 
a  soldier's  grave.  Here,  too,  many  a  weeping  wife  and  bereaved 
mother  faithfully  watched  and  tenderly  nursed  their  sick  and 
wounded,  dying,  sons  and  husbands.  You  could  tell  the  patient's 
condition,  whether  better  or  worse  each  day,  by  the  nurse's  coun- 
tenance and  expression.  If  the  patient's  prospects  were  encour- 
aging, and  bidding  fair  to  get  well,  you  could  see  the  cheerful 
expression  beaming  from  the  nurse's  countenance  as  we  sat  by 
them  at  the  table.  On  the  other  hand,  if  all  looked  discouraging, 
and  death  seemed  to  be  approaching,  you  could  see  a  solemn  sad- 
ness in  the  eye  of  the  anxious  wife  or  mother. 

To  'this  noted  hospital  and  camp  the  coming  and  going  of 
patients,  soldiers,  officers,  prisoners,  surgeons,  visitors,  and  ma- 
trons were  like  the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  the  tide  of  the  ocean. 
Superintended  by  Dr.  Eli  McClellan,  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
U.  S.  A.,  surgeon  in  charge,  noted  for  his  good  executive  ability, 
and  managed  more  directly  by  the  skilful  surgeon,  Dr.  Rush, 
surgeon  of  U.  S.  Vol.,  and  executive  officer  of  this  division, with 
all  the  modern  improvements,  and  carefully  managed  internally, 
by  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Dully,  directress,  who,  like  Mary  of  old,  "did 
what  she  could  "  to  provide  for  and  comfort  the  sick  and  wounded, 
the  patients  generally  fared  very  well.  It  was  called  Chesapeake 
Hospital,  and  sometimes  known  as  the  Officer's  Division.  It 
was  closed  August  1865. 

Having  labored  here  some  three  months,  owing  to  the  dimi- 
nution of  patients  in  this  division,  I  went  over  to  the 

UNITED  STATES  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  HAMPTON,  VA., 

which  was  organized  August  18,  1862,  by  Dr.  J.  M.  Cuyler, 
Assistant  Surgeon,  U.S.A.  Dr.  E.  McClellan  was  the  firat 


82  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAK. 

surgeon  in  charge,  and  was  continued  nearly  three  years.  It  was 
only  about  half  a  mile  from  the  Chesapeake.  It  contained 
twenty-five  good  frame  wards,  well  furnished  with  single  iron 
bedsteads  and  good  bedding,  with  everything  convenient  and 
comfortable.  Each  ward  would  accommodate  about  sixty  pa- 
tients. It  was  beautifully  laid  out,  and  built  in  the  form  of 
a  sharp  triangle,  or  wedge,  with  comfortable  board-walks  all 
through  it,  and  with  two  large  dining-halls  and  two  "  side- 
kitchens"  in  the  centre,  with  linen-room,  dispensary,  baggage- 
room,  library,  post-office,  and  head-quarters,  at  the  base — all  were 
very  conveniently  arranged. 

Besides  those  twenty-five  "  wooden  wards,"  there  were  several 
large  teut-wards,  containing  each  about  one  hundred  patients, 
which,  together  with  the  guards  and  attendants,  made  in  all 
usually  about  twenty-five  hundred  patients  in  this  division. 

Built  upon  a  level  plain,  hard  by  the  old  aristocratic  town 
of  Hampton,  always  kept  clean  and  neat,  and  overlooked  by 
the  lofty  dome  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  the  Tyler  House,  and  over- 
shadowed by  the  dear  old  flag,  and  surrounded  with  Hospital 
tents,  it  looked  like  a  little  city,  and  presented  a  very  neat  ap- 
pearance. Here  I  met  with  the  efficient  Chaplain  E.  P.  Roe, 
U.S.A. ;  and  we  labored  together  very  agreeably  until  several 
months  after  the  war  closed.  This  division  was  the  scene  of 
much  severe  suffering  and  many  deaths.  It  was  devoted,  during 
my  stay,  exclusively  to  private  soldiers;  and,  being  the  head- 
quarters of  all  the  other  divisions,  in  the  fall  of  1864  it  was  very 
much  enlarged.  Here  the  surgeon  in  charge  had  his  office,  to 
which  all  the  other  divisions  made  their  regular  reports.  In 
July  or  August,  1865,  all  the  other  divisions  were  consolidated 
into  this.  Soon  after  the  fall  of  Richmond,  the  hospitals  at  the 
front  began  to  disband,  and  the  patients  were  brought  here. 
About  the  20th  of  July,  1865,  Dr.  McClellan,  the  old  surgeon 
in  charge,  was  relieved,  and  Dr.  J.  H.  Frantz,  Assistant  Surgeon, 
U.S.A.,  succeeded  him. 

NEW  CAMP, 

or  Division  No.  2,  established  in  the  summer  of  1864,  and  chap- 
lamed  by  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Raymond,  U.S.A.,  was  composed 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  83 

entirely  of  tents.  Situated  upon  a  little  eminence  close  by 
Hampton,  and  washed  by  the  swelling  tide,  and  favored  with  a 
fine  refreshing  breeze,  the  location  was  fine.  It  contained  from 
ten  to  twelve  hundred  patients,  comfortably  situated  in  good 
tents.  Everything  about  it  was  kept  clean  and  neat,  so  that  it 
was  an  interesting  place  to  visit.  Here,  a  great  many  brave 
soldiers  fought  their  last  battle,  and  many,  too,  gave  every  evi- 
dence of  triumphing  over  death.  It  was  afterward  used  exclu- 
sively for  colored  patients.  Chaplain  Raymond,  having  charge 
of  the  public  schools  of  the  department,  was  absent  very  often, 
and  consequently  had  pious  soldiers  appointed  to  go  round,  read, 
talk,  and  pray  with  the  sickest  or  worst  wounded  patients,  and 
note  down  their  religious  experience  and  the  dying  messages  of 
those  that  died,  and  send  them  home  to  the  bereaved  friends.  I 
very  often  visited  this  camp  and  did  what  I  could  in  pointing 
the  patients  to  Christ,  warning  and  beseeching  them  to  trust  in 
the  Lord.  Here  I  met  with  many  very  interesting  cases  in 
religious  experience. 

THE   CONTRABAND   HOSPITAL, 

or  Division  No.  4,  accommodating  about  one  hundred  and  sixty 
patients,  was  situated  over  beyond  Hampton,  in  a  very  pleasant 
place.  Although  it  was  devoted  more  especially  to  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  contrabands,  colored  soldiers  were  often  sent  there 
for  treatment.  They  had  no  chaplain ;  and  when  I  could  find  it 
convenient,  I  went  over,  visited,  conversed  with  the  worst  cases, 
and  preached  to  them  all.  They  seemed  to  appreciate  it  highly. 
During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1864,  this  vast  institution  was 
rather  a  receiving  hospital,  where  the  patients  were  coming  and 
going  nearly  all  the  time.  They  came  at  the  rate  of  seven  hun- 
dred, or  more,  a  day ;  sometimes,  and  often,  from  two  hundred 
and  fifty  to  four  hundred  per  day  in  Government  steamers. 
They  were  sent  North  by  ship-loads ;  often  in  a  state  of  health  so 
low  that  several  would  die  on  their  way  North.  All  the  different 
divisions  were  consolidated  into  one  general  hospital  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1864,  under  the  name  of  the  United  States  General  Hospital, 
Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  and  so  remained  until  March,  1866,  when 


84  CHRISTIANITY    1ST    THE    WAR. 

it  was  all  disbanded.  Blessed  with  an  almost  constant  refreshing 
sea-breeze,  and  being  almost  surrounded  with  water,  the  location 
was  fine,  and  very  conducive  to  health.  For  nearly  three  entire 
years  of  the  bloody  war,  the  whole  was  commanded  by  Dr.  E. 
McClellan,  Assistant  Surgeon,  U.S.A.,  who  displayed  fine  execu- 
tive ability  in  managing  it  so  successfully. 

THE   HOSPITAL  GARDEN. 

Close  by  Hampton  Hospital  was  the  hospital  garden.  With  a 
rich,  fertile  soil  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  superintended 
by  Chaplain  Roe,  it  was  well  managed,  and  worked  by  the  pa- 
tients and  convalescents ;  it  was  well  tilled,  and  yielded  abundant 
crops.  It  was  the  biggest  garden  I  ever  saw.  There  must  have 
been  some  sixty  acres  under  cultivation,  yielding  the  finest  kind 
of  vegetables,  and  many  of  them  of  a  very  early  growth.  The 
yield  in  the  year  1865,  according  to  the  report  of  Chaplain  Roe, 
was  25,000  head  of  cabbage,  800  bushels  of  beans,  100  bushels 
of  carrots,  20  bushels  of  cucumbers,  75  bushels  of  beets,  5  bush- 
els of  peppers,  20  bushels  of  salsify,  25  bushels  of  parsnips,  100 
bushels  of  squashes,  250  bushels  of  tomatoes,  2693  ears  of  sweet 
corn,  1100  cheese  pumpkins,  1500  watermelons,  325  egg-plants, 
1000  bushel  of  Irish  potatoes,  1100  bushels  of  lettuce,  104 
bushels  of  spinach,  364  bushels  of  pease,  11,760  bunches  of 
onions,  11,465  bunches  of  radishes,  800  heads  of  cauliflowers, 
and  large,  fine  patches  of  strawberries,  etc.  Many  of  the  patients 
having  been  so  long  without  vegetables,  they  gave  them  a  double 
relish  for  them.  A  nice  dish  of  fine  strawberries  was  very  re- 
freshing to  the  sick  and  wounded  soldier.  The  officers  shared 
largely  in  the  products  of  the  garden.  Dr.  McClellan  frequently 
sent  a  box  of  vegetables  to  Gen.  Barnes,  Surgeon-General,  U.S.A., 
at  Washington  City.  When  the  strawberries  and  watermelons 
began  to  get  ripe,  the  garden  was  put  under  guard.  The  garden 
was  a  fine  thing  for  the  hospital.  The  vegetables  were  conducive 
1«  the  recovery  of  the  patients. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  85 

THE  HOSPITAL  HENNERY. 

Owing  to  the  great  demand  for  eggs  aiid  chickens  in  the  hos- 
pital, and  well  aware  of  the  value  of  this  kind  of  diet  among 
the  patients,  the  surgeon  in  charge  got  up  a  hospital  hennery 
hard  by  the  hospital  garden  and  graveyard.  It  contained  some 
five  or  six  acres  of  ground,  traversed  by  a  small  ravine,  with  a 
little  bayou  of  a  small  arm  of  the  adjoining  bay.  Inclosed  with 
a  very  high  paling,  it  was  very  difficult  for  the  fowls  to  escape. 
It  was  well  furnished  with  neat,  comfortable  hen-houses  and 
roomy  coops.  Here  the  doctor  gathered  in  some  fifteen  hundred 
chickens,  turkeys,  and  ducks.  Overseen  by  a  detached  soldier 
expert  in  the  business,  the  institution  was  well  managed.  And 
although  the  hens  laid  thousands  of  eggs  and  hatched  over  a 
thousand  chickens,  yet,  owing  to  their  being  too  much  crowded, 
or  from  some  other  cause,  they  never  seemed  to  do  well.  Yet 
the  craving  appetite  of  many  a  needy  soldier  was  satisfied  and 
his  languishing  system  strengthened  by  the  eggs,  soup,  and 
chickens  furnished  from  this  poultry  yard ;  and  no  doubt  many 
a  patient's  life  was  saved  by  these  refreshments. 

CAMP  DISTRIBUTION. 

Hard  by  Chesapeake  Hospital  was  Camp  Distribution. 
Washed  by  the  swelling  tide  of  the  limpid  waters  of  Hampton 
Roads,  overlooking  the  fort  and  the  mighty  ships  and  flying 
steamers  ploughing  the  wide  surrounding  waters,  the  location 
was  fine.  With  extensive  barracks,  and  inclosed  with  a  strong 
fence,  with  a  secure  guard,  it  formed  a  safe  retreat  for  the  so- 
journing soldier.  Here  the  new  recruit,  the  drafted  soldier, 
the  volunteer,  and  the  returning  veteran  poured  in  from  the 
North  by  thousands  and  thousands,  and  during  the  last  eighteen 
months  of  the  war  some  hundred  thousand  passed  through  this 
often  crowded  camp.  Like  the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  the  tide, 
they  came  and  went  daily  by  hundreds  and  thousands  to  all 
parts  of  the  army  and  navy.  Commanded  by  Capt.  Blake,  and 
guarded  by  Battery  F,  of  the  3d  Pa.  Heavy  Artillery,  everything 


86  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

was  kept  clean  and  neat.  With  large  crowds  collected  in  these 
barracks,  it  afforded  a  very  good  opportunity  for  preaching.  And 
here  Chaplain  Marshall  would  go,  night  after  night,  and  administer 
to  their  spiritual  wants.  Entering  the  vast  crowd  at  dark,  he 
would  commence  by  singing  an  interesting  hymn,  and  having 
thus  attracted  their  attention,  he  would  preach  to  them  the 
simple  truths  of  the  gospel,  earnestly  urging  them,  as  they  had 
enlisted  in  the  service  of  their  bleeding  country,  to  enlist  in  the 
cause  of  a  bleeding  Saviour.  Commencing  in  his  attractive,  win- 
ning way,  he  always  succeeded  in  getting  their  attention,  and 
then,  in  a  warm,  earnest  manner,  he  gave  many  of  the  heroic 
patriots  their  last  warning  and  urgent  invitation,  as  they  were 
going  forth  to  fight  for  the  salvation  of  their  country,  first  to 
secure  the  salvation  of  their  immortal  souls.  The  meetings 
were  solemn  and  interesting.  And  the  chaplain,  feeling  that 
it  was  doubtless  the  last  opportunity  with  many  of  them,  with 
his  heart  warmed  and  soul  stirred  with  the  solemnity  and  im- 
portance of  the  occasion,  was  enabled  the  more  earnestly  to  be- 
seech them,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  "  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come," 
repent,  and  oome  to  Jesus.  Eternity  alone  will  reveal  the  good 
accomplished  in  these  meetings. 

Immediately  adjoining  this  camp  was  the  military  prison,  into 
which  were  gathered  all  sorts  of  criminals  from  the  Union  army, 
and -hosts  of  rebel  prisoners  of  all  grades  and  characters.  To  see 
a  gang  of  "Johnnies "  stripped  of  their  arms,  clothed  in  tattered 
gray,  with  countenances  fallen,  hearts  discouraged,  each  one 
dragging  a  flimsy  blanket  surmounted  with  a  rusty  canteen, 
presented  quite  a  shabby  appearance.  In  this  stronghold,  or 
"  bull  pen,"  as  it  was  generally  called,  Union  soldiers  and  officers 
were  often,  for  very  small  offences,  kept  in  confinement  for 
months.  They  repeatedly  sought  redress,  but  it  was  difficult  to 
get,  and  always  slow  in  coming.  They  had  comfortable  barracks, 
partitioned  off  into  small  rooms,  to  dwell  in ;  but  no  beds  but 
blankets  in  their  bunks  to  sleep  in.  When  any  got  very  sick, 
they  were  taken  to  the  rebel  ward  in  the  hospital. 

Their  spiritual  wants  were  supplied  with  Testaments,  religious 
books,  tracts,  and -papers.  Besides,  they  usually  had  preaching 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  87 

on  the  Sabbath  —  sometimes  by  a  stranger,  or  a  delegate  of  the 
Christian  Commission,  but  generally  by  Mr.  Marshall.  Here 
this  laborious  chaplain  would  go  with  an  armful  of  papers  and 
tracts,  and  having  distributed*  them  to  the  hungry  inmates,  many 
of  whom  read  them  with  avidity,  he  would  assemble  them 
together  in  the  open  air,  and  preach  to  them  "Jesus,  and  the 
resurrection,"  telling  them  of  their  sins,  warning  them  of  their 
danger,  and  beseeching  them  by  the  mercies  of  God  to  repent, 
and  embrace  the  Saviour.  Here,  too,  I  went  occasionally,  distri- 
buted papers  and  tracts,  and  "  preached  to  the  spirits  in  prison," 
urging  them  by  the  love  of  Christ,  by  the  pains  of  hell,  and  by 
the  joys  of  heaven,  to  cling  to  the  cross. 


GANGRENE  CAMP. 

A  little  to  the  left  of  the  apex  of  Hampton  Hospital,  situated 
alongside  of  a  little  swamp,  headed  by  a  fine  spring  of  good  water, 
was  the  lonely  Gangrene  Camp ;  made  of  tents,  some  good  and 
some  inferior,  some  with  plank  floors  and  some  without,  yet 
being  well  kept,  with  the  streets  swept  clean,  it  presented  rather 
a  neat  appearance. 

The  cooling  spring,  so  convenient,  added  very  much  to  the 
comfort  of  the  wounded  heroes.  This  camp  was  the  scene  of 
much  very  severe  suffering.  It  was  not  until  a  patient's  wound 
became  badly  gangrened,  and  they  began  to  despair  of  recovery, 
that  he  was  brought  here,  as  the  place  of  the  last  resort.  Here 
the  brave  heroes  would  undergo  the  most  severe  pain  for  months 
and  months,  and  finally  die  at  last.  Here  they  put  in  nearly  the 
whole  winter  of  1864-'65,  without  any  fire  in  their  tents,  which 
added  much'  to  their  suffering  from  wounds  and  disease.  Stoves 
were  put  up  late  in  the  winter,  and  added  much  to  the  comfort 
of  the  patients.  Although  this  camp  was  furnished  with  a 
surgeon,  ward-master,  nurses,  wound-dresser,  and  all  the  appli- 
ances of  the  hospital,  yet,  being  off  to  one  side,  it  was  generally 
a  somewhat  forsaken  and  neglected  place.  Sometimes  persons 
visiting  it  were  not  allowed  to  go  immediately  into  other  wards, 
lest  they  should  convey  the  gangrene  to  other  wounded  patients. 


88  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Besides,  many  did  not  wish  to  see  so  many  severe  "wounds,  bruises, 
and  putrefying  sores."  I  visited  it,  preached  to,  read  and  prayed 
with,  the  patients  very  often;  urging  the  impenitent  to  repentance, 
and  comforting  the  believer  with  the  consolations  of  the  gospel. 

It  was  on  a  cold,  chilly  night  in  November,  near  the  hour  of 
twelve,  when  I  was  called  by  the  nurse  to  go  and  visit  a  patient 
lying  nigh  unto  death  in  this  lonely,  cheerless  camp.  The  pale 
moon  was  dimly  shining,  and  the  dim  light  feebly  burning  in 
the  tent,  when  I  lifted  the  curtain  where  the  brave  hero  was 
lying,  earnestly  praying  for  his  soul's  salvation.  On  approaching 
him,  he  warmly  grasped  my  hand,  and,  upon  inquiring  how  he 
was,  he  replied,  "  I  am  very  weak ;  I  don't  think  I  am  going  to 
live  long;  and  I  have  sent  for  you,  hoping  you  could  administer 
a  word  of  comfort,  and  write  a  letter  of  sympathy  and  consolation 
to  my  wife  and  children."  "  I  trust  you  are  not  without  hope  ?  " 
"  Oh,  no !  I  have  a  glorious  hope.  Christ  is  my  only  hope,  and 
he  is  growing  more  and  more  precious  every  hour." 

"  The  pious,  heroic  John  Lambert,  with  his  legs  burned  to  the 
stumps,  with  his  body  pierced  with  ruthless  halberds,  with  his 
fingers  flaming  with  fire,  with  dying  breath  exclaimed,  'None 
but  Christ !  NONE  BUT  CHRIST  ! '  Think  you  would  be 
afraid  to  die  ? "  "  No,  I  think  not.  I  die  for  my  country, 
and,  dying  for  Him  who  died  for  me,  I  have  nothing  to  fear ; 
I  don't  fear  death,  thank  God !  I  trust  He  will  give  me  the 
victory  over  it."  "  You  seem  to  have  it  already."  "  I  have  got 
the  victory ! "  said  the  dying  Rutherford,  and  he  left  the  world 
shouting  glory.  I  asked  him,  "  What  word  shall  I  send  to  your 
wife  and  dear  children?"  "Tell  them  I  died  happy  in  Christ." 
He  lingered  a  few  hours,  and  God  took  him  home.  How  striking 
the  transition  !  how  glorious  the  change !  from  a  lonely,  dreary 
gangrene  camp  to  the  throne  of  God  in  heaven  !  Here,  he  wore  a 
soldier's  garb  ;  there,  robed  in  white,  he  wears  a  crown  of  glory, 
and  bears  palms  of  victory.  I  visited  two  other  patients  at  the 
same  call ;  one  of  which  was  so  far  gone,  it  was  then  too  late  to 
get  his  dying  message  to  send  home  to  comfort  his  bereaved 
friends.  He  was  a  good  man.  Such  were  my  visits  to  this  suf- 
fering camp. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR,  89 

Here  we  have  witnessed  some  most  glorious,  triumphant  deaths. 
Big  sinners  saved  —  "  brands  plucked  out  of  the  fire" —  rejoicing 
in  the  Lord,  shouting  glory  to  God,  and  giving  thanks  for  saving 
grace.  Here  we  saw  a  wounded  soldier  with  whom  we  had  often 
conversed,  read,  and  prayed,  after  several  days'  earnest  seeking 
and  praying,  while  we  were  trying  to  explain  to  him  the  way  of 
salvation,  and  urging  him  to  fly  to  Christ,  all  of  a  sudden  ex- 
claim, "  I  have  got  it !  J  have  got  it !  I  have  got  religion  !  "  and 
he  went  on  shouting  "  glory  to  God  and  hallelujah  to  the  Lamb  " 
to  such  an  extent  that  it  roused  the  whole  camp.  Here,  too,  we 
have  seen  the  affectionate  wife,  burdened  with  anxiety,  come 
several  hundred  miles  to  see  her  wounded  husband;  and  on 
arriving,  to  her  most  sad  disappointment,  find  him  struggling  in 
the  agonies  of  death,  with  reason  dethroned,  unable  to  recognize 
her.  It  was  a  severe  trial.  But  such  is  life,  and  such  is  death 
in  the  hospital.  Here,  too,  we  have  seen  the  intelligent  New 
England  colored  soldier,  with  his  face  and  eyes  so  badly  swollen 
with  erysipelas  that  he  could  not  see ;  yet,  enlightened  by  God's 
Spirit,  and  seeing  Jesus  with  the  eye  of  faith,  give  important 
instruction  arid  advice  to  dying  comrades  lying  around  him, 
urging  them,  as  the  last  act  of  his  life,  and  in  a  most  tender 
manner  beseech  them,  be  reconciled  to  God.  With  an  eye  and 
a  countenance  beaming  with  intelligence  and  probity  deeply 
stamped  with  the  image  of  Christ,  and  possessing  clear  and  dis- 
tinct views  of  the  plan  of  salvation,  he  was  able  in  a  few  words, 
in  an  appropriate  manner,  to  point  the  sick  and  wounded  soldier, 
lying  close  by  him,  to  Him  whose  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin. 

ARRIVAL  OF   PATIENTS. 

During  the  time  of  the  most  destructive  fighting,  we  often 
received  from  two  hundred  to  five  hundred  patients  in  a  day, 
and  some  days  the  number  reached  nearly  eight  hundred.  And 
our  hospital  having  better  accommodations  than  those  at  the 
front,  they  usually  sent  us  the  worst  and  most  dangerous  cases. 
We  often  sent  them  North  by  ship-loads  of  five  or  six  hundred 
each,  to  make  room  for  more.  During  the  summer  of  1864,  like 


90  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

the  mighty  waves  of  the  sea,  they  came  and  went  all  the  time. 
We  frequently  received  large  boat-loads  of  patients  all  wounded, 
many  of  them  seriously  and  mortally  wounded ;  yet  it  was  sur- 
prising to  find  them  so  calm,  patient,  and  resigned.  Inured  to 
hardness  on  the  march  and  in  battle,  and  filled  with  a  heroic 
spirit,  they  had  learned  not  to  complain.  To  see  a  large  steamer 
crowded  with  them,  lying  upon  their  narrow  couches,  with  bleeding 
wounds,  shattered  bones,  amputated  limbs,  and  parched  tongues, 
was  enough  to  move  the  compassion  and  rouse  the  sympathies 
of  the  hardest  heart.  And  to  gaze  upon  so  many  brave  hearts, 
with  limbs  riven  from  their  bodies,  that  not  a  State  be  riven  from 
the  Union,  would  stir  the  loyalty  of  the  coldest  patient. 


TRANSFERRING  PATIENTS. 

During  the  summer  of  1864,  Hampton  Hospital  was  more  of 
a  receiving  hospital  than  a  home  for  the  sick  and  wounded  soldier. 
Like  the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  the  tide,  the  patients  kept  pouring 
in  and  flowing  out  all  the  time.  They  were  brought  in  from 
"  the  front"  by  boat-loads,  and  transferred  North  by  ship-loads. 
After  a  man  had  tried  the  realities  and  trials  of  hospital  life  a 
few  months,  he  usually  began  to  think  about  getting  a  furlough 
home.  And  often  patients  severely  wounded,  and  low  with  disease 
even,  sometimes,  when  they  were  unfit  to  go,  were  gathered  up 
and  transferred.  Sometimes  ten  or  twelve  would  die  on  board 
during  one  trip  to  New  York  or  Philadelphia  They  were  often 
a  good  deal  crowded,  and  frequently  suffered  for  the  want  of  air. 
Although  a  change  of  climate,  besides  the  voyage,  together  with 
the  idea  of  going  home  or  homeward,  were  well  calculated  to 
inspire  new  life  and  vigor  into  the  poor  sufferers,  yet  many  found 
a  watery  grave  by  the  way  instead  of  the  smiles  of  kind  friends 
and  the  comforts  of  home.  While  some  were  transferred  when 
unable  and  unfit  to  go,  yet  doubtless  many  an  emaciated  patient, 
run  down  with  chronic  diarrhoaa,  and  breathing  an  unwhole- 
some air,  and  often  fed  on  an  unsuitable  diet,  died  in  the  hos- 
pital, who  would  have  got  well  had  they  been  discharged  or 
furloughed  and  sent  home.  But,  somehow  or  other,  they  were 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  91 

retained  in  the  hospital  until  reduced  to  mere  skeletons,  and  at 
last  death  came  as  a  relief  and  closed  the  solemn  scene.  And 
although  the  patients  were  often  handled  quite  roughly  in  being 
taken  to  and  from  the  transport,  yet,  tired  of  hospital  life,  and 
very  anxious  to  go  home,  they  were  nearly  always  ready  to 
gtart. 

VOYAGE  TO  NEW  YORK. 

Late  in  July,  1864,  I  sailed  with  a  load  of  five  hundred  and 
fifteen  patients  on  the  beautiful  ocean-steamer  Atlantic,  Capt. 
Eldridge,  in  charge  of  Dr.  Smith,  Surgeon,  U.  S.  Vol.,  for  New 
York.  The  Atlantic  was  a  very  fine,  large,  fast -running  ship, 
well  fitted  up  for  transferring  patients,  and,  being  so  large,  she 
could  not  get  near  the  hospital;  hence  the  patients  had  to  be 
taken  out  to  her  in  tugs  and  small  crafts,  which  occasioned  an- 
other handling  of  them  to  their  disadvantage.  With  the  last 
patient  on  board,  taken  in  at  a  small  hole  in  the  side  of  the  sable 
Atlantic,  it  was  about  noon,  and  the  old  gray-headed  captain 
gave  the  bell  a  ring,  and  we  set  sail  amidst  the  surging  waves 
of  the  old  Chesapeake  lashing  the  bustling  wharf  of  Fortress 
Monroe.  On  reviewing  the  patients,  and  learning  their  condition, 
we  soon  found  that  we  had  got  into  "a  big  job,"  for  there  were 
many  bad,  needy  cases.  One  brave  veteran,  with  an  arm  and 
leg  both  off,  fatigued  with  his  removal,  fell  from  his  bed,  and 
hurt  his  wounds  till  they  bled  afresh.  Yet,  full  of  pluck,  he  bore 
it  all  very  patiently.  Others  we  found  apparently  nigh  unto 
death,  needing  much  attention;  but  they  all  survived  the  voyage. 
Some  of  the  nurses  seemed  rather  negligent,  and,  by  administer- 
ing to  his  wants,  I  believe  I  saved  the  life  of  one  poor  frail  old 
man.  The  labors  of  a  chaplain  are  very  much  needed  on  board, 
when  so  many  patients  are  being  transferred.  In  making  my  rounds, 
we  found  one  very  low,  weak  patient,  with  whom  we  conversed 
and  prayed  in  the  hospital  before  we  started,  lying  on  his  back, 
unable  to  sit  up ;  and,  as  I  approached  him,  he  was  so  glad  that 
he  grasped  and  kissed  my  hand  most  affectionately,  as  he  lay 
upon  the  floor  attended  by  his  kind  brother.  And  thougli  weak, 
yet  within  that  frail  body  there  throbbed  a  warm  heart,  beating 


92  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

high  with  gratitude  to  God  and  his  friends.  Trusting  in  the 
Lord,  he  bore  all  very  patiently,  and  seemed  to  have  no  fear  of 
death.  Lying  in  the  same  ward  in  the  ship  was  the  unfortunate 
soldier  who  was  shot  in  the  head,  who  lay  beside  him  in  the  same 
tent  in  the  hospital,  accompanied  by  his  kind,  affectionate  mother. 
Crowded  into  a  place  poorly  ventilated,  they  both,  with  all  in 
that  ward,  suffered  for  the  want  of  fresh  air ;  and  he  who  carried 
the  minie-ball  in  his  head  grew  worse  by  the  fatigue  of  the 
trip.  And  it  was  very  hard,  when  he  was  carried  off  the  Atlantic, 
to  see  the  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  patients  received  at  New 
York,  refuse  the  weeping  mother  the  privilege  of  taking  her 
dear  son  to  the  city  hospital.  "  No,"  the  surgeon  sternly  replied; 
"  he  must  go  to  David's  Island,  with  the  rest  of  the  patients ;  " 
and  the  grieved  mother  wept  like  a  child,  saying,  "The 
Government  will  get  no  more  of  my  sons  for  the  army."  Al- 
though the  opportunity  for  preaching  on  the  transport  was  not 
favorable,  we  gave  them  one  or  two  short  sermons  during  the 
trip.  We  had  many  very  interesting  seasons  of  prayer  for  and 
with  the  patients  during  the  pleasant  voyage.  Frequently  they 
would  request  to  be  prayed  for.  The  weather  was  cool  for  the 
season,  and  the  patients,  with  good  beds  and  good  rations,  gene- 
rally fared  well.  We  reached  quarantine,  ten  miles  below  New 
York,  in  less  than  thirty -six  hours,  where  we  lay  all  night,  and 
landed  at  the  foot  of  Canal  Street  by  seven  o'clock  next  morning, 
July  29th,  and  by  one  P.M.  we  had  all  the  brave  boys  trans- 
ferred to  another  boat  for  David's  Island,  some  twenty-five  miles 
above  the  city.  Though  the  work  was  laborious,  I  enjoyed  the 
trip  very  much.  It  was  an  encouraging  field  for  usefulness. 
Though  duty  called,  we  parted  with  the  maimed  and  suffering 
heroes  with  reluctance.  Having  been  detained  two  days  in  New 
York,  we  sailed  Friday  morning  for  Alexandria,  Va.,  for  another 
load  of  patients.  And  having  rounded  Fortress  Monroe,  with  all 
its  beautiful  attractions,  and  sailing  up  the  broad,  beautiful  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  we  entered  the  wide-mouthed  Potomac,  with  a  fine 
view  of  Point  Lookout  on  the  right,  Saturday  evening  at  six, 
and  soon  anchored  for  the  night,  July  30,  a  little  above  Black- 
stone's  Island.  A  beautiful  Sabbath  morning  dawned,  and  by 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

five  we  weighed  anchor,  and  the  gigantic  Atlantic  went  on  sub- 
limely, ploughing  the  murky  Potomac,  regardless  of  the  Lord's 
day,  until  half-past  six,  when  she  ran  aground  on  Kettle  Bottom 
Shoals,  opposite  Homini  cliffs,  hard  by  the  birthplace  of  General 
Washington.  Now  came  a  hard  day  for  the  old  gray-headed 
captain.  At  the  stupidity  of  the  pilot,  he  was  sorely  vexed. 
He,  the  crew,  and  the  nurses,  all  worked  very  hard  all  Sabbath- 
day  to  get  loose,  but  failed.  They  hitehed  on  tug  after  tug  to  pull 
her  off,  but,  being  so  deeply  moored  in  the  sand,  she  stuck  fast. 
Sabbath  evening  I  gathered  up  all  I  could  in  the  cabin  and 
preached  to  them.  We  had  a  very  good  meeting.  Yet  it  was  a 
hard  way  spending  the  Lord's  day,  which  is  so  awfully  disre- 
garded in  time  of  war,  and  by  boatmen  generally.  Having 
spent  the  Sabbath  "all  fast  on  the  Potomac,"  we  got  loose  on 
Monday,  and  sailed  for  Fortress  Monroe;  and  I  was  glad  to 
get  back  to  the  hospital. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   RELIGIOUS   WORK   AT   HAMPTON    HOSPITAL. 

THE  HARVEST,  GREAT  AND  WHITE  —  THE  PRAYER  -  HALL  —  No 
CHURCH  —  SOLDIERS'  EARNEST  PRAYERS  AND  ELOQUENT  EXHOR- 
TATIONS —  IT  WAS  THE  ELOQUENCE  OP  THE  HEART,  MELTING  ALL 
INTO  TEARS  — WARD  PRAYER  -  MEETINGS  —  INTEREST  INCREAS- 
ING —  THE  POWER  OF  PRAYER  —  SOLDIERS'  PRAYER-MEETING  — 
BUSH  PRAYER-MEETINGS  —  PREACHING  TO  MEN  ON  THEIR  DEATH- 
BEDS—  "THE  LAST  MORNING." 

OWING  to  the  diminution  of  patients  at  the  Chesapeake, 
and  having  heard  the  Macedonian  cry  on  the  other  side,  we 
went  over,  and  commenced  laboring  regularly  in  Hampton  Hos- 
pital about  the  first  of  August,  1864.  Here,  with  a  large  hospital, 
containing  some  two  thousand  patients,  the  field  was  great,  white, 
ready  to  harvest ;  and  God,  in  his  providence,  as  well  as  the  sick 
and  dying  soldier,  loudly  called,  "Thrust  in  ike  sickle, and  reap" 


94  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Before  we  quit  laboring  at  the  Chesapeake,  we  occasionally  visited 
Hampton.  At  the  first  prayer-meeting  we  attended  there,  June 
17,  1864,  the  people  seemed  cold  and  backward  in  taking  part. 
The  meeting  was  small,  and,  conducted  on  the  voluntary  principle, 
it  seemed  to  drag.  The  time  wasted  between  prayer  and  praise 
denoted  a  want  of  interest.  Yet  praying  right  in  the  midst  of 
so  many  sick,  wounded,  and  dying  soldiers,  we  deemed  it  a  great 
privilege  to  be  there ;  and,  at  the  request  of  the  chaplain,  we 
took  part  in  prayer  and  exhortation.  The  touching  song,  "Just 
before  the  battle,  mother,"  sweetly  sung  by  a  few  ladies  at  the 
close,  was  deeply  impressive.  Such  was  the  first  prayer-meeting 
at  Hampton,  where  we  met  so  often  afterward  and  enjoyed  such 
precious  times  of  refreshing.  A  few  days  after,  we  again  visited 
Hampton,  and,  after  calling  with  a  few  of  the  old  patients  from 
the  Chesapeake,  we  went  back  to  the  house  of  prayer,  and  we 
had  a  very  good  meeting.  The  spirit  of  the  Lord  was  with  us, 
and  there  was  much  more  life  and  devotion  in  the  exercises. 
Several  soldiers  spoke  and  prayed.  It  was  good  to  be  there. 

Here  we  met  with  a  generous,  agreeable,  fast  friend  in  Chaplain 
E.  P.  Roe,  U.S.A.,  in  charge  of  the  spiritual  interests  of  this 
division  of  the  hospital,  with  whom  we  labored,  hand-in-hand, 
till  long  after  the  rebellion  was  quelled  and  the  country  saved. 
Mild,  modest,  and  unpretending  in  his  nature,  and  progressive 
in  his  views,  Chaplain  Roe  had  a  good  tact  to  get  Christians  to 
labor  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord. 

THE  PRAYER-HALL. 

Being  without  a  chapel,  we  met  in  one  of  the  dining-halls 
situated  in  the  centre  of  the  triangular  hospital.  The  building 
was  a  mere  shell  —  an  upright  frame,  some  two  hundred  feet  long 
and  about  thirty  wide,  with  a  dingy  table  in  the  middle,  around 
one  end  of  which  we  met  twice  a  week  for  many  long,  bloody 
months,  and  poured  out  our  souls  and  hearts  unto  God  for  the 
salvation  of  the  patients,  the  bereaved  and  loved  ones  at  home, 
and  for  the  salvation  of  our  bleeding  country.  Being  without 
any  fire,  and  the  hall  being  open,  it  was  very  cold  in  winter,  and 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  95 

very  uncomfortably  warm  in  summer.  But  it  was  the  best  we 
could  get,  and,  knowing  that  the  blessing  to  be  obtained  through 
the  prayer  -  meeting  did  not  depend  upon  the  house  or  place 
we  met  in,  but  upon  the  state  of  the  hearts  that  meet,  here  we 
met  regularly,  and  enjoyed  many  seasons  of  refreshing.  Paul  and 
Silas  had  a  very  happy  meeting  in  the  Philippian  jail,  with  their 
feet  fast  in  the  stocks.  And  within  "the  murky  walls  of  this 
sombre  hall  the  faithful  soldier  of  the  cross  would  drag  his  emaci- 
ated, mutilated  frame  upon  crutches,  to  sing  and  pray.  Accus- 
tomed to  feats  of  daring  and  courage,  men  are  less  bashful  in  the 
army  than  at  home.  Trained  to  fight  upon  the  bloody  field,  they 
are  not  so  slow  and  backward  to  take  up  the  cross  in  the  house  of 
prayer.  Partaking  less  of  "the form"  our  prayer-meetings  in 
the  hospital  seemed  to  enjoy,  or  possess,  more  of  "  the  power  of 
God  "  than  those  usually  at  home.  To  see  men  hobbling  along 
to  the  prayer-meeting  when  scarcely  able  to  walk,  and  so  earn- 
estly engaged  in  the  great  work  of  salvation,  was  truly  encouraging 
and  refreshing  to  the  soul.  The  warm,  earnest  exhortation,  and 
the  fervent,  heart-gushing  prayer,  told  that  many  of  the  soldiers 
lived  near  the  throne  of  grace. 

Sometimes  the  recital  of  religious  experience,  incidents,  and 
purposes  was  most  touching,  eloquent,  and  powerful.  Their 
little  speeches  were  not  composed,  far-fetched  or  fine-spun  phrases: 
no ;  it  was  the  eloquence  of  the  heart  —  big,  earnest  thoughts, 
bubbling  up  from  the  depths  of  the  soul,  struggling  for  utterance, 
and  when  they  fell  from  lips  set  on  fire  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  it 
was  like  rain  upon  the  mown  grass.  Gushing  right  out  from 
the  heart,  their  words  were  sharp,  quick,  and  powerful,  and, 
steeped  in  prayer,  they  sunk  down  deep  into  the  heart  and  made 
a  deep,  lasting  impression.  Men,  illiterate,  with  souls  burning 
with  zeal,  would  sometimes  so  electrify  the  whole  congregation 
that  all  would  melt  into  tears.  To  hear  the  young  converts 
relate  their  own  experience  often  arrested  the  careless,  and  stirred 
the  soul  of  the  lukewarm  professor.  The  interest  was  often  so 
great,  and  the  disposition  to  pray  so  strong,  that  it  was  very  diffi- 
cult to  get  through  in  reasonable  time.  Sometimes  we  had  fifteen 
or  twenty  prayers  at  one  meeting.  The  hall  being  used  for 


96  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

eating  purposes  in  the  daytime,  we  always  met  at  night,  and  with 
but  a  few  candles  "dimly  burning,"  stuck  up  along  the  rough 
sides  of  the  hall,  it  always  presented  a  gloomy  appearance ;  yet 
with  our  souls  lit  up  by  God's  Spirit,  and  stimulated  by  the 
crisis  of  the  dying  soldier's  soul,  we  often  got  very  near  the 
throne  of  grace,  and  the  men  often  prayed  as  though  they  felt  "  I 
will  not  let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me."  Praying-men  from 
all  quarters  of  the  country  putting  up  their  prayers  from  this 
noted  place,  the  prayer-meetings  became  quite  a  power  in  the 
hospital.  The  happy  seasons  there  enjoyed  by  thousands  will, 
doubtless,  be  remembered  throughout  eternity.  Such  a  spirit  of 
union  pervaded  the  meeting  that  we  seldom  inquired  to  what 
church  a  man  belonged.  Denominationalism  was  swallowed  up 
in  the  great  interests  of  the  soul. 

These  meetings  were  usually  led  by  Chaplain  Roe,  but  often 
by  the  author.  We  generally  commenced  by  singing  a  hymn, 
and  after  reading  a  few  verses  of  Scripture,  accompanied  with 
prayer  and  a  few  words  of  exhortation  by  the  chaplain,  the 
meeting  was  thrown  open,  and  all  cordially  invited  to  lay  aside 
all  Restraint  and  take  part  freely,  and  the  liberty  in  praying  and 
speaking  fully  evinced  that  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  with  us. 

In  this  same  gloomy  hall  we  had  preaching  every  Sabbath 
night.  In  this  the  chaplains  took  turns,  except  when  visitors, 
or  the  delegates  of  the  Christian  Commission,  by  request,  filled  the 
pulpit.  The  attendance  was  usually  good,  and  sometimes  very 
large,  reaching  five  hundred  or  six  hundred  attentive  hearers. 
With  a  good  choir,  graced  with  a  well-played  harmonium,  they 
made  the  dusty  walls  of  the  old  hall  ring  again  with  their  en- 
chanting music.  We  usually  used  "  the  Army  and  Navy  Hymn- 
book,"  published  by  the  American  Tract  Society. 

WARD  PRAYER  -  MEETINGS. 

Seeing  the  field  was  so  great,  and  the  work  so  arduous,  the 
chaplains  labored  to  secure  Christian  effort  among  the  patients. 
In  this  Mr.  Roe  .succeeded  well.  And  in  this  way  we  induced 
the  patients  to  hold  prayer-meetings  in  their  own  wards  by  them- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  97 

selves.  In  several  wards  those  little  pray  ing- circles  were  kept 
up  regularly  for  months,  and  some  of  the  more  active  Christians 
would  go  round  and  look  up  the  scattered  sheep,  and  gather  the 
wayward  into  the  fold.  And  in  this  way,  we  believe,  much  was 
accomplished.  One  soldier  told  me  he  was  led  to  Christ  by  two 
men  talking  to  him,  one  night,  on  picket.  Another,  while  lying 
on  his  sick-bed,  he  said,  was  converted  by  hearing  a  man  of 
the  world  read  a  chapter  out  of  the  Bible.  I  have  frequently 
seen  the  Christian  soldier  earnestly  talking  Christ  into  his  com- 
rade, and  beseech  him  to  be  reconciled  to  God.  This  was  obeying 
the  divine  command,  "  Go,  WORK  in  my  vineyard"  And  if  alt 
Christians  would  only  obey  it,  the  cause  of  Christ  would  advance 
tenfold  faster.  "  Why  stand  ye  here  all  the  day  idle  ?" 

Tired  of  the  lonely  monotony  of  hospital  life,  the  sick  or 
wounded  soldier,  who  has  lain  for  months  on  his  bed  sore-back, 
is  always  willing  and  glad  to  hear  a  word  of  prayer  and  praise, 
and,  coming  from  a  soldier,  it  is  often  more  effectual  than  from  a 
chaplain.  There  was  one  good  boy,  George,  of  the  188th  Pa. 
Vol.,  recently  converted  in  the  hospital,  who  took  a  deep  interest 
in  this  work.  He  would  often  go  round,  talk  to,  read  and  pray 
with  the  patients,  earnestly  beseeching  them  to  repent,  and  come 
to  the  Saviour. 

The  ward  masters  and  matrons  also  did  a  good  work  in 
this  way  in  their  own  wards.  With  these,  besides  the  labors 
of  the  delegates  of  the  Christian  and  Sanitary  Commissions, 
together  with  the  regular  visitations  of  the  chaplains  and  the 
rich  supply  of  books,  periodicals,  tracts,  and  all  sorts  of  papers, 
the  spiritual  as  well  as  the  intellectual  wants  of  the  patients 
were  well  provided  for.  In  visiting  the  patients  we  usually 
noted  down  their  religious  experience,  and  when  they  died,  we 
sent  home  their  dying  messages  to  comfort  and  console  their 
bereaved  friends  To  go  round  thus,  daily  bending  over  the 
sick,  wounded,  and  low-fevered  cases,  endeavoring  to  catch  their 
last  dying  words,  and  learn  their  hopes  and  feelings,  exposing 
ourselves  to  disease,  though  the  work  was  hard  and  laborious, 
yet  we  delighted  in  it. 
7 


98  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB. 

,      INTEREST  INCREASING. 

After  laboring  a  short  time  in  Hampton  Hospital,  preaching 
daily  in  the  wards,  and  by  prayer,  exhortation,  and  conversing 
with  the  patients,  urging  them  to  repent,  and  come  to  the  Saviour, 
together  with  the  regular  Sabbath  evening  preaching  and  semi- 
weekly  prayer-meetings  in  the  dining-hall,  in  connection  with 
the  distribution  of  tracts,  religious  papers,  pamphlets,  and  books, 
through  the  blessing  of  God,  the  interest  soon  began  to  in- 
crease. Clouds  of  mercy  gathered /ind  burst  upon  us,  and  God's 
gracious  presence  and  the  strivings  of  his  Spirit  were  evinced 
not  only  by  the  attentive  ear,  but  by  the  enlarged  attendance 
upon  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  increased  interest  in  the 
regular  prayer-meetings. 

The  \veather  was  now  very  warm,  and  the  battles  raging  at 
the  front,  boat-loads  of  patients  were  brought  in  almost  daily, 
with  many  very  severely  wounded,  with  arms  and  legs  off,  and 
shot  in  all  parts  of  the  body.  Hence  the  stream  of  death  rose 
very  high,  and  flowed  all  through  the  hospital,  carrying  away 
from  ten  to  twenty  suffering  heroes  a  day.  The  average  mor- 
tality during  the  month  of  August,  1864,  was  a  little  over  ten  a 
day.  And  while  death  was  raging  so  furiously,  as  though  the 
people  were  warned  and  impressed  with  the  solemn  fact,  the 
desire  for  spiritual  life  increased.  While  some,  being  so  "  used  to 
death,"  rather  "  made  light  of  it,"  others,  seeing  so  many  dear 
comrades  snatched  away,  wrapped  in  their  winding-sheets,  and 
borne  to  the  dead-house  on  stretchers,  were  deeply  impressed, 
and  acting  as  though  they  felt,  "  I  don't  know  but  it  may  be  my 
turn  to  go  next,"  they  began  to  consider  their  ways,  and  to 
prepare  to  meet  their  God.  Still,  death  reigned :  God's  Spirit 
was  poured  out,  and  there  was  quite  a  shaking  among  the  dry 
bones,  and  the  people  were  enabled  to  speak  and  pray  with  great 
power.  And  while  our  armies  at  "the  front"  were  winning 
glorious  victories  on  the  field,  through  grace  the  sick  and  wounded 
were  achieving  greater  victories  on  their  beds  in  the  hospital. 
Although  they  could  no  longer  wield  the  sword  nor  fire  a  cannon, 
yet,  with  their  hearts  fired  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  they  could  wield 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  99 

an  instrumentality  in  defence  of  their  country  still  more  power- 
Jfil  than  either  of  these.  What  was  it?  PRAYER  !  faithful,  earnest 
prayer.  "  Prayer  moves  the  arm  that  moves  the  world."  "  Prayer 
is  literally,  actually,  and  positively  a  means  of  power  "  "  When 
Ethelred,  the  Saxon  king  of  Northumberland,  invaded  Wales, 
and  was  about  to  give  battle  to  the  Britons,  he  observed  near  the 
enemy  a  host  of  unarmed  men.  He  inquired  who  they  were, 
and  what  they  were  doing.  He  was  told  that  they  were  monks 
of  Bangor,  praying  for  the  success  of  their  countrymen.  '  Then,' 
said  the  heathen  prince,  '  they  have  begun  the  fight  against  us ; 
attack  them  first.' "  How  clear  and  strong  the  king's  faith  in 
prayer  as  a  means  of  power.  "  Prayer  is  no  fiction."  No:  it  is 
a  reality.  "  It  is,"  says  Dr.  Phelps — and  God  has  purposed  that  it 
should  be  —  "a  link  of  connection  between  the  human  mind  and 
the  divine  mind  by  which,  through  his  infinite  condescension,  we 
may  actually  move  his  will." 

The  orifice  of  the  throttle  connecting  the  boiler  with  the 
cylinder  of  a  steam-engine  is  very  small ;  but  it  is  an  engine 
of  mighty  power.  Gaze  upon  the  Great,  Eastern  as  she  lies  upon 
the  placid  ocean.  Not  a  wave  is  to  be  seen;  not  a  wheel  or 
a  paddle  in  motion.  All  is  calm  and  quiet.  Lift  the  valve,  the 
steam  escapes,  enters  the  cylinder,  starts  the  piston,  moves  the 
huge  crank,  turns  the  ponderous  wheel,  and  in  a  moment  all  is 
in  motion,  and  the  mammoth  steamer  ploughs  the  mighty  ocean 
and  heaves  the  very  earth.  And  all  done  simply  by  lifting  a 
little  valve.  "  Behold  how  great  a  matter  a  little  fire  kindleth." 
So  it  is  with  earnest,  importunate  prayer ;  though  apparently  a 
small,  weak  instrumentality,  yet  it  is  "  mighty  through  G6V1." 
Gaze  upon  the  earnest  supplicant  in  his  closet ;  there,  upon  his 
bended  knees,  he  lifts  the  valve  of  his  gushing  heart ;  his  desires 
escape,  reach  God's  throne,  and  thus  moves  the  powers  of  heaven 
and  earth.  The  Saviour  says,  "  If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my 
name,  I  will  do  it."  "  And  all  things  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask 
in  prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  receive."  "  The  effectual,  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availcth  much."  Jacob  prayed,  and 
had  power  with  God,  and  prevailed.  Gaze  upon  the  thrilling 
scene  of  Peniel,  and  mark  the  power  of  prayer.  Jacob  had 


100  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

supplanted  his  brother  Esau,  and  caused  his  furious  wrath  and 
murderous  indignation  to  burn  against  him,  and,  being  afraid, 
Jacob  fled  to  Padan-aram  for  refuge.  After  a  sojourn  of  twenty 
years  he  returned,  and  finds  Esau's  vengeance  still  burning  against 
him ;  but  Jacob  resolves  to  meet  him,  and  to  try  the  power  of 
prayer  to  effect  a  reconciliation.  And  having  sent  his  family  and 
flocks  over  the  brook  Jabbok,  he  retires  alone,  prays,  and  wrestles 
with  God,  and  prevails.  The  heart  of  Esau  is  touched,  the  rebel- 
lion knocked  out  of  him,  and  his  fratricidal  revenge  is  turned  to 
brotherly  love  and  affection ;  and  when  he  met  him,  he  embraced 
him  with  a  kiss  and  the  warmest  affection. 

And  although  our  success  in  quelling  the  rebellion  is  generally 
attributed  to  the  sagacity  and  ability  of  great  generals  and  the 
hard  fighting  of  brave  soldiers,  yet,  doubtless,  we  owe  it  very 
much  to  the  prayers  of  God's  people.  If  the  revenge  and 
rebellion  of  Esau  were  quelled  in  answer  (o  Jacob's  prayer,  could 
we  not  expect  God's  loyal  people  to  pray  cVwn  the  rebellion  of 
the  South?  If  God  delivered  the  captive  hosts  of  Israel  in 
answer  to  the  prayers  of  Daniel,  could  we  noi  expect  deliverance 
from  the  great  rebellion  in  answer  to  the  prayers  of  the  North  ? 
What !  without  fighting  ?  No.  But  the  prayers  of  faith  are 
always  mixed  with  works.  Hence,  while  the  faithful  Christian 
soldier  prays  as  though  God  had  to  do  everything,  he  fights  and 
labors  as  though  he  had  to  do  everything  himself.  Washington 
and  Cromwell  fought  bravely,  doubtless,  because  they  prayed 
fervently.  The  colored  people  had  been  praying  for  liberty  for 
years  before  their  emancipation.  God  says  :  "  Call  upon  me  in 
the*day  of  trouble,  and  I  will  deliver  thee."  And  endowed  with 
the  spirit  of  prayer,  there  commenced  about  this  time  among  the 
nurses  and  patients  of  the  hospital 

A  SOLDIERS'   PRAYER -MEETING. 

U.  S.  HAMPTON  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  ) 
FORTRESS  MONROE,  VA.,  Sept.  17, 1864.     I 

It  was  on  Friday  evening,  August  12,  1864 :  a  few  of  us  had  just 
returned  from  burying  the  mortal  remains  of  five  soldiers,  and  left  seven 
more  it.  the  dead-house  for  want  of  graves.  The  meeting  was  opened  with 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  101 

reading  the  tenth  chapter  of  Isaiah,  by  Chaplain  Roe,  followed  with  some 
nppropriate  remarks,  and  the  singing  of  a  few  verses  from  the  Army  and 
Navy  Hymn-book.  The  meeting  was  then  thrown  open  to  all,  and  the 
chaplain  said,  "  We  wish  to  have  a  free,  social  soldiers'  meeting." 

Soon  one  rose,  and  said,  "  The  past  week  has  been  the  happiest  of  my 
life.  On  this  night  a  week  ago,  I  went  round,  after  prayer-meeting,  and 
gathered  up  four  comrades,  and  we  went  out  in  the  woods  to  pray.  We  all 
prayed,  and  had  a  very  happy  time."  He  also  spoke  of  the  last  words  of 
a  poor,  dying  soldier,  who  said,  "The Lord  is  mine." 

Another  rose,  and  said,  "  I  never  felt  so  happy ; "  and,  requesting  the 
prayers  of  the  congregation,  sat  down  in  tears. 

Another  rose,  and,  with  a  trembling  heart  and  stirred  spirit,  confessed 
his  sins,  acknowledged  his  unfaithfulness,  and  earnestly  besought  the 
prayers  of  all  that  he  "  might  do  right." 

Another,  like  the  trembling  jailer,  "  desired  to  be  a  Christian."  He 
said  he  had  Christian  parents,  and  asked  to  be  prayed  for,  "  that  God 
might  bless  his  soul ;  "  to  which  many  responded,  "  Amen  !  Amen ! " 

Another  boy,  George,  aged  sixteen,  said,  "  I  have  tried  to  be  a  Christian 
a  week.  I  received  a  letter  from  my  good  old  mother,  and  she  encourages 
me  much ; "  and  with  a  smitten  heart  he  sat  down,  "  all  filled  up."  This 
same  boy  speaks  and  prays  witfy  wonderful  power  and  effect.  He  goes 
about  in  the  wards,  talks  and  prays  with  the  patients,  and  gathers  up  a 
little  company,  and  goes  out  into  the  woods  every  day  to  have  prayer- 
meeting.  He  says  they  always  come  back  much  refreshed.  "  Let  us 
thank  God,  and  take  courage."  Toil  on,  George,  God  will  reward  you. 

Another,  more  aged,  soldier  said,  "  I  am  filled  full.  I  thank  God  for 
what  I  have  felt  to-night.  Some  say  we  can't  be  Christians  in  the  army ; 
but  we  can  be  better  here  than  anywhere  else."  He  closed  with  shouting 
"glory,"  and  seemed  very  much  stirred  up  —  said  he  felt  happy. 

Another  said,  "  It  is  twenty-five  years,  next  Monday,  since  I  found 
Jesus  in  a  sugar-grove  in  Ohio.  God  found  me  a  sinner.  I  feel  very 
happy  to-night." 

Another  said,  "It  is  good  to  serve  God.  I  have  tried  it,  and  would 
recommend  it." 

It  was  a  happy,  powerful  meeting  —  a  real  "  time  of  refreshing."  Some 
of  the  speeches  were  really  eloquent ;  it  was  the  eloquence  of  the  heart — 
the  Spirit  of  God  speaking  through  the  quickened  soldier.  We  could  but 
weep.  It  was  truly  good  to  be  there. 

The  gracious  work  still  goes  on,  deepening  and  widening.  The  frail 
soldiers  turn  out  very  well.  Some  walk  with  crutches ;  others,  scarcely 
able  to  walk  at  all,  drag  their  frail  bodies  to  the  dining-hall  to  sing  and 
pray.  We  now  have  a  hospital  Union  church  of  over  fifty  members,  and 
still  they  come.  Last  night  we  had  a  most  precious  time.  I  scarcely  ever 
saw  such  a  disposition  to  pray.  After  the  chaplain  ended  his  remarks,  he 


102  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

picked  up  the  hymn-book  to  give  out  a  hymn  to  sing;  but  before  he  had 
time  to  open  his  mouth,  some  soldier  was  on  his  knees  praying.  We  "go 
it  on  the  voluntary  system;"  and  very  often,  when  one  ceased  praying, 
two  more  began  at  once.  Eighteen  led  in  prayer  last  night.  We  didn't 
take  time  to  sing  much. 

Brethren,  pray  for  us !     "0  Lord,  revive  thy  work !  " 


A  PRAYER -MEETING  IN  THE  BUSHES. 

When  God's  Spirit  is  powerfully  poured  out,  it  always 
draws  men  to  their  knees ;  and  when  man,  just  converted,  gets 
a  glimpse  of  the  great  things  God  has  done  for  him  in  "  pull- 
ing him  out  of  the  fire,"  with  a  heart  overflowing  with  gratitude 
and  burning  with  desire  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  he  cannot  help 
but  pray.  Such  was  the  feeling  of  the  small  squad  of  soldiers 
in  Hampton  Hospital.  And  wooed  by  the  Spirit,  and  desiring  a 
more  retired  place  than  the  crowded,  suffering  ward  afforded, 
they  retired  to  the  leafy  copse  daily  for  prayer  and  supplication. 
Armed  with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  the  little  Army  and 
Navy  Hymn-book,  thither  this  little  band  of  suppliants  would 
daily  resort  to  pour  out  their  hearts  unto  God  for  the  preservation 
of  the  country,  and  for  the  salvation  of  the  sick  and  wounded. 
There,  secluded  from  the  world,  and  shut  in  with  God,  with  no 
covering  but  the  canopy  of  heaven,  and  no  altar  but  the  cross  of 
Christ,  they  read,  sung,  and  prayed ;  and  while  the  earth  was 
drinking  the  blood  of  our  brave  veterans  at  the  front,  dying  for 
the  salvation  of  their  country,  their  prayers  ascended  to  God  for 
the  salvation  of  their  souls. 

And  so  eager  were  they  in  this  blessed  work,  that  sometimes  a 
few  of  them  would  collect  and  go  out  to  pray,  after  the  regular 
weekly  prayer-meeting,  late  at  night.  And  there,  overshadowed 
by  the  darkness  of  the  night,  yet  with  their  souls  lit  up  by  the 
light  of  God's  Spirit,  they  found  the  way  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
and  got  so  nigh  unto  God  that  one  says,  "We  all  felt  very 
happy."  Another  active  spirit  in  these  bush  prayer-meetings 
says,  a  We  always  come  back  much  refreshed."  "  What  a  blessing ! 
how  encouraging !  Always  come  back  much  refreshed ! "  "  Yes ! " 
"  Why,  George  ?  "  "  Well,  I  don't  know,  chaplain ;  but  so  it 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  103 

Is.  We  go  out  into  the  bushes.  God  meets  with  us ;  and,  by 
singing  and  praying,  we  endeavor  to  get  very  near  to  God,  and 
always  come  back  much  refreshed."  What  the  cooling  brook 
is  to  the  thirsty  hart,  or  the  thirsty  soldier  on  a  long  march  on  a 
warm  day,  prayer  is  to  a  thirsty  soul  —  always  refreshing.  "  And 
doubtless,  George,  it  is  your  drinking  so  deeply  of  the  wells  of 
salvation  that  proves  so  refreshing  to  your  longing  hearts." 
"  Yes ;  I  suppose,  chaplain,  that  is  so.  We  always  find  the 
nearer  we  get  to  God,  and  the  more  earnestly  we  pray,  the  more 
refreshed  we  feel."  "Yes,  God  is  an  inexhaustible  'fountain 
of  life ; '  and  the  oftener  you  draw,  and  the  deeper  you  drink, 
the  more  refreshed  you  will  be. 

"  Then,  George,  let  me  entreat  you,  go  on  with  your  prayer- 
meetings.  As  you  have  got  the  fire  burning  in  the  bushes,  fan 
it,  and  keep  it  burning  until  it  spreads  all  over  the  camp,  and 
burns  upon  the  altar  of  every  sinner's  heart,  so  that  when  the 
patients  go  back  to  the  front,  they  may  go  armed  with  weapons 
not  carnal,  that  they  may  be  mighty  through  God  to  the  pulling 
down  of  the  strongholds  of  the  rebellion.  Oh,  then,  George, 
pray  on.  Gather  up  the  forces,  and  lead  them  on  in  the  battles 
of  the  Lord !  You  have  every  encouragement.  It  was  in 
answer  to  the  prayers  of  eleven  apostles  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  poured  out  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  when  three  thousand 
souls  were  converted  in  a  day.  In  answer  to  the  prayers  of  the 
church,  the  chains  fell  off  of  Peter,  and  he  was  released  from 
prison.  It  was  after  Rev.  John  Livingstone  had  spent  the  pre- 
vious night  in  prayer,  that  he  preached  that  most  powerful  sermon 
on  'the  new  heart'  (Ezek.  xxxvi.  25,  26),  at  Shotts,  in  Scot- 
land, June  21,  1630,  under  which  about  five  hundred  sinners 
were  converted. 

"  Thus  you  see  what  great  things  God  has"  wrought  in  answer 
to  the  prayers  of  his  people.  How  very  encouraging  to  pray  on, 
George !  Then  go  on  with  unfaltering  determination." 

PREACHING  TO  MEN  OX  THEIR  DEATH-BEDS. 

Overburdened  with  labor,  and  surrounded  with  so  many  critical 
cases  of  sick  and  wounded  men  requiring  prompt  attention,  our 


104  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

ingenuity  was  sometimes  taxed  to  know  how  to  meet  them  to  the 
best  advantage.  Hence,  on  entering  a  ward,  and  seeing  so  many 
brave  heroes  lying  upon  the  verge  of  eternity,  and  others,  per- 
haps, just  passing  the  crisis  of  the  soul,  and  all  anxiously  inquir- 
ing what  to  do  to  be  saved,  and  not  being  able  to  reach  them  all 
in  due  time  in  personal  conversation,  we  were  led  to  adopt  the 
plan  of  preaching  in  the  wards,  where  we  could  at  the  same  time 
instruct,  beseech,  and  implore  all  in  the  whole  ward  to  come  to 
the  Saviour  at  once.  This  plan  seemed  to  work  very  well.  A 
word  of  prayer  and  praise,  accompanied  with  a  plain,  pointed, 
brief  sermon,  was  a  relief  to  the  patients,  tired  of  the  dull 
monotony  of  the  hospital.  After  entering  a  ward,  and  securing 
the  approbation  of  the  ward-master,  we  usually  commenced  the 
solemn  service  by  singing  some  appropriate  hymn  full  of  Christ, 
the  soldiers  joining  in,  followed  by  reading  a  short  passage  of 
Scripture,  such  as  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son,  the  case  of  the 
Philippian  jailer,  or  the  story  of  blind  Bartimeus,  etc.  Then 
followed  the  sermon,  which  we  always  endeavored  to  make 
searching,  powerful,  and  practical ;  always  endeavoring  to  con- 
vince the  sinner  of  his  sins,  the  imminent  danger  of  his  course,  and 
the  great  importance  of  immediate  repentance ;  urging  them  by 
the  love  of  Christ,  by  the  pain  of  hell,  and  by  the  eternal  glories 
of  heaven,  "  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come,"  and  fly  to  the  cross  at 
once.  With  the  sick,  the  dead,  and  the  dying  around  us,  and 
with  the  stern  realities  of  eternity  rising  before  us,  and  God's 
Spirit  stirring  within  us,  the  services  were  usually  very  solemn 
and  interesting.  Preaching  to  men  lying  upon  their  death-beds, 
who  had  laid  down  their  lives  for  their  country,  and  feeling  that 
it  was  "  the  last  time,"  and  the  last  warning  to  some  of  them,  and 
that  their  salvation,  under  God,  hung  suspended  upon  the  deci- 
sion of  the  hour,  seemed  to  add  much  to  the  solemnity  of  the 
occasion,  to  heighten  our  responsibility,  and  to  help  and  strengthen 
us  for  the  arduous,  important  work.  This  work,  though  very 
laborious  to  the  chaplain,  was  to  me  very  pleasant  and  delightful. 
To  point  out  the  way  of  eternal  life  to  him  who  had  sacrificed 
his  life  for  his  country,  though  a  sad,  was  no  melancholy,  duty. 
The  patients  enjoyed  it  much.  And  very  often  would  they  ex- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  105' 

press  their  gratification,  as  I  passed  their  couches,  in  such  words- 
as  these.  "You  don't  know,  chaplain,  how  much  good  that 
sermon  did  me.  Please  come  in  and  give  us  another  as  soon 
as  you  can." 

A  colored  soldier  said  to  me,  "  I  liked  to  jumpt  out  of  bed  while 
you  was  preaching,  last  night,  I  felt  so  happy;  my  very  heart  seemed 
to  leap  with  joy" 

I  preached  on  this  way,  averaging  more  than  a  sermon  a  day, 
for  several  months.  Very  often  I  preached  two  or  three  times 
a  day,  besides  writing  letters  for  the  patients,  burying  the  dead, 
and  canvassing  the  hearts  of  the  most  dangerous  cases,  noting 
down  their  religious  experience  and  prospects  for  the  future. 

There,  standing  between  the  living  and  the  dead,  we  endea- 
vored to  hold  forth  the  cross  of  Christ  as  the  only  way  of  sal- 
vation :  endeavoring  to  comfort  and  console  the  suffering  patient 
by  the  meek  submission  of  Him  who  died  upon  Calvary  that 
guilty  sinners  might  enjoy  eternal  life. 

The  following  extract  will  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  our  man- 
ner of  addressing  the  patients  in  the  wards. 

THE  LAST  WARNING. 

AN    APPEAL    TO   WOUNDED    SOLDIERS    IN    HOSPITAL. 

Having  spoken  to  the  Christian  soldier  and  to  the  backslider,  we  come 
now,  my  impenitent  friends,  to  give  you  a  word  of  warning  and  encou- 
ragement. You  have  had  many  warnings.  The  thrilling,  heart-rending 
scenes  of  battle  —  dear  comrades  falling,  bleeding,  dying  at  your  side, 
beseeching  you  with  their  last  breath,  "  Be  ye  also  ready  "  —  the  departed 
spirits  of  half  a  million  slain  in  this  war,  whose  tongues  are  now  mute  in 
death,  bid  you  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God."  The  daily  funeral  notes  of  the 
death  march  of  the  escort  bearing  a  cart-load  of  dead  soldiers  to  the  grave 
is  but  the  voice  of  God  warning  you  '*  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come."  The 
gushing  tears  and  earnest  prayers  of  a  tender  mother,  an  affectionate  wife, 
and  anxious  sister,  warn  you ;  trust  in  God  and  fly  to  Jesus.  And  yet, 
withal,  here  you  are  to-night,  still  impenitent,  lying  prostrate  upon  your 
couches,  and,  doubtless,  many  of  you  upon  your  death-beds,  dying  for 
your  country,  and  yet  rejecting  Him  who  died  for  you.  You  kill  men  for 
rebelling  against  the  government,  and  yet  you  still  live  in  rebellion  against 
God.  Your  sufferings  for  your  country  have  been  terribly  severe,  but  they 


106  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

are  notin,iy  compared  with  the  sufferings  that  await  you  if  you  die  impeni- 
tent. You  have  felt  the  raking  fire  of  long  lines  of  rebel  heavy  artillery, 
but  that  is  nothing  to  the  "  unquenchable  fire,"  artillery,  and  torments  of 
hell.  And  here  you  are  still  careless  and  insensible  to  your  danger.  Care- 
less !  insensible !  with  the  grave  yawning,  the  devil  seeking,  and  hell 
moving  to  destroy  you !  Insensible !  with  God  smiling,  the  Spirit  striving, 
and  heaven  stooping  to  save  you !  Oh,  then,  we  beseech  you,  by  the 
mercies  of  God,  by  the  love  of  Christ,  and  by  the  joys  of  heaven,  bestir 
yourselves ;  repent,  and  come  to  Jesus.  This  is,  without  doubt,  the  last 
warning  to  some  of  you.  It  is  now  or  never ;  to-morrow,  doubtless,  will 
be  too  late.  "  Now  is  the  accepted  time."  I  heard  a  dying  soldier  say, 
last  night,  with  his  life-blood  flowing  from  him,  "  IT  is  TOO  LATE  !  TOO 
LATE  !  "  And  so  it  will  be  with  you,  unless  you  soon  repent.  Oh,  then, 
let  this  be  the  day  of  your  salvation  !  May  God  bless  you !  And  yet  the 
Lord  waits  to  be  gracious.  Jesus  is  here  waiting  to  forgive  your  sins,  and 
wash  your  souls  in  his  own  blood.  Jesus  is  here  earnestly  crying,  "Turn 
ye!  turn  ye  I  for  why  will  you  die!"  And  will  you  die,  patriot  soldier  ? 
WILL  you  die  with  Jesus,  "  the  Prince  of  Life,"  at  your  hand,  waiting  to 
give  you  eternal  life?  You  may  die,  die  here  in  the  hospital,  covered  with 
glory  and  honor  defending  your  country  —  that  is  glorious  —  but,  oh,  if 
you  die  to  save  your  country  and  lose  your  own  soul,  is  not  that  lament- 
able? Die  for  your  country  I  Die  beside  the  Prince  of  Life,  and  to  enter 
"  the  second  death,"  which  never  dies !  Die  for  Him  who  died  for  you, 
and  yet  die  and  be  lost  I  Oh,  how  lamentable !  Oh,  my  dear  friend,  stop, 
think,  consider,  turn,  look,  and  come  to  Jesus,  and  come  now  !  May  God 
have  mercy  on  you,  and  bless  you !  May  the  love  of  Christ  constrain 
you!  Jesus  is  here —  here  in  this  ward  —  here  in  all  the  plenitude  of  his 
power,  readiness,  and  willingness,  to  give  you  life,  pardon,  peace,  and  sal- 
vation — 

"Jesus  ready  stands  to  save  you, 
Full  of  pity,  love,  and  power." 

As  the  compassionate  Saviour  cried  to  the  anxious  throng  around  the  lovely 
heights  of  Jerusalem,  "  Come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give  you  rest,"  so  he 
still  cries  to  you,  my  impenitent  friends,  in  tones  of  love  and  mercy,  with 
the  same  gushing  heart  and  encouraging  promise,  "  How  often  would  1 
have  gathered  you  !  "  Yes,  you,  my  dear  soldier ;  and  must  it,  shall  it,  be 
said  of  you,  as  of  them,  "  ye  would  not  ?  "  Oh,  remember,  I  pray  you,  only 
think  of  the  Saviour's  "I  WOULD,"  and  your  own,  "  ye  would  not  I  "  And 
are  you  not  willing  to  be  saved?  Are  you  willing  to  die  for  the  salvation 
of  your  country,  and  not  willing  to  be  saved  "  without  money  and  without 
price  ?  "  And  will  you,  can  you,  reject  such  a  Saviour,  who  has  suffered, 
bled,  and  died  to  redeem  you?  "  Who  of  God  is  ready  to  be  made  unto 
you  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification,  and  redemption."  Oh,  then, 
come  unto  him  !  "  Come,  for  all  things  are  now  ready."  Come,  for  yet, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  107 

there  is  room.  Yes,  room  for  every  patriot  soldier;  room  in  the  church 
below ;  room  in  the  church  above ;  and  room  in  the  Saviour's  bleeding 
heart.  See  how  he  pleads  !  hear  how  he  entreats !  by  the  thrilling  scenes 
of  Bethlehem,  Gethsemane,  and  Calvary  he  cries,  Come !  by  his  bleeding 
hands  and  dying  groans,  he  cries,  Come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give  you 
REST  —  rest  from  sin  —  rest  from  error  and  doubt  —  rest  from  sorrow  and 
suffering  —  rest  in  heaven,  where  there  will  be  no  more  sorrow,  pain,  nor 
death ;  for  God  himself  shall  wipe  away  all  tears.  Oh,  then,  come  !  Come 
where  f  Come  here  \  Come  when  f  Come  now  !  Come  how  f  Come 
JUST  A3  YOU  ARE  I  But,  oh,  come  !  May  God  bless  and  enable  you  to 
come! 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

WRITING   LETTERS   FOR   THE   PATIENTS. 

A  DYING  SOLDIER'S  LETTER  TO  HIS  BROTHER  —  SOLEMN  —  His  WILL — 
"  YOURS  IN  DEATH "  —  " LETTERS  OF  DEATH "  —  "I  AM  READY " — 
LETTERS  FROM  THE  BEREAVED  —  No.  1.  THE  BEREAVED  WIFE  — 
No.  2.  THE  BEREAVED  BROTHER — No.  3.  THE  WEEPING  WIDOW  — 
No.  4.  THE  DYING  HUSBAND'S  LETTER  TO  HIS  WIFE  —  No.  5.  A 
WEEPING  SOUTHERN  FAMILY —  CANVASSING  PATIENTS'  HEARTS  — 
DIAGNOSIS  OF  THE  WHOLE  HOSPITAL — "On,  CHAPLAIN,  STAY,  AND 
TALK  TO  ME  MORE  ABOUT  JESUS  !  "  —  "  BEFORE,  I  WOULD  CRY,  '  FORT 
PILLOW,  AND  LET  'EM  HAVE  IT  ! '"  —  "  SAVE  ME,  LORD  I  SAVE  ME, 
LORD  ! " 

WHEN  long  deprived  of  the  pleasures  of  home,  the  next 
thing  to  seeing  the  friends  is  to  hear  from  them.  Letter- 
writing  is  said  to  be  "  a  true  transcript  of  the  soul ; "  and,  doubt- 
less, it  is  this  (because  we  can  more  fully  unbosom  our  hearts  in 
writing  than  in  speaking  face  to  face)  that  gives  letter-writing 
such  an  immense  power  and  influence  in  society.  A  neat  letter 
from  a  long-absent,  far-off  friend,  "  how  good  is  it."  See  how 
the  happy  recipient  clasps  it  to  her  bosom,  with  a  heart  throbbing 
with  joy!  To  open  and  trace  the  beautiful  lines  all  glowing 
with  sympathy  and  love,  bedewed  with  the  heart-gushing  tears 
of  an  affectionate  friend,  wife,  or  mother,  would  always  cheer  up 


108  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  revive  the  most  cast-down  and  home-sick  patient.  Hence, 
writing  letters  for  them  was  an  important  part  of  the  chaplain's 
and  delegate's  work.  This  work  was  profitable,  not  only  morally, 
but  spiritually.  For  at  the  close  of  every  letter  sent  home,  it 
was  always  a  favorable  opportunity  to  draw  out  the  religious 
feelings,  purposes,  and  prospects  of  the  patient,  to  send  along  to 
comfort  his  anxious  friends  at  home.  And  just  as  we  were  about 
closing  the  letter,  the  question  would  come  up,  "Shall  I  say, 
'Please  pray  for  me,  mother?' "  and  the  inquiry  would  often  be  re- 
plied to  with  such  a  meek,  God-confiding  "  yes"  as  often  brought 
the  penitential  tear  from  the  eye,  redolent  with  faith  and  hope. 
And  when  we  come  to  inquire,  at  the  last,  of  the  brave  soldier, 
"Shall  I  add  'May  God  bless  you,  mother?' "  as  the  soft  "yes" 
dropped  from  his  quivering  lips,  with  a  heart  throbbing  with  the 
deepest  emotions,  and  thinking  that  probably  it  was  the  son's  last 
letter  to  a  dear  mother,  it  seemed  to  draw  us  both  nearer  to  God. 
Scenes  like  these  were  solemn,  and  fraught  with  peculiar  touching 
interest ;  but  when  we  come  to  write  the  letter  of  a  man  mor- 
tally wounded,  when  we  knew  it  was  his  last,  it  increased  the 
interest  to  deep  solemnity.  We  recollect  one  particular  case  of 
thrilling  interest.  A  young  man,  of  talent  and  wealth,  had  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  in  the  arm.  Amputation  had  been  per- 
formed, but  not  until  it  was  too  late.  Pyemia  had  set  in,  which 
almost  always  resulted  in  dissolution  in  a  few  days ;  and,  con- 
scious of  the  near  approach  of  death,  the  brave  hero  begins  to 
set  his  house  in  order,  and  prepares  to  leave  this  lower  world. 
How  solemn  the  scene !  Although  facing  "  the  last  enemy,"  with 
the  stern  realities  of  the  eternal  world  rising  in  full  view  before 
him,  yet  with  undaunted  courage  he  fears  not.  Death  stares  him 
in  the  face ;  yet  he  lies  calm  and  serene.  He  indites  a  letter  to 
his  brother ;  it  is  his  last !  How  trying  the  hour !  After  casting 
some  reflections  upon  his  surgeon  for  not  cutting  off  his  arm 
sooner,  and  giving  his  brother  some  directions  about  his  temporal 
aifairs,  he  closes  his  dying  letter  with  these  striking,  solemn 
words,  —  "  YOURS  IN  DEATH  ! " 

Prayer  was  frequently  made  for  his  salvation.    And  entreating 
aim  to  throw  himself  in  the  arms  of  an  all-compassionate  Saviour, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  109 

he  seemed  to  let  go  of  the  world,  and  lay  hold  of  Jesus.  There 
he  lies.  His  last  sands  are  running.  The  mortal  conflict  rages. 
Death  works;  frail  nature  gives  way;  the  vital  cord  snaps,  and 
the  heroic  patriot  yields  up  the  ghost ! 

LETTERS  OF  DEATH. 

But  there  was  another  kind  of  letters  to  be  written.  To  in- 
form the  friends  at  home  of  the  condition  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldier  was,  sometimes,  an  unpleasant  task ;  but  when  one  died, 
especially  if  he  gave  but  dim  evidence  of  preparation,  as  was  fre- 
quently the  case,  and  we  were  made  the  despatcher  of  the  mourn- 
ful intelligence  of  his  death  to  the  bereaved  mother,  widowed 
wife,  and  orphaned  children,  the  duty  was  peculiarly  sad  and 
painful.  Hence,  we  always  endeavored  to  canvass  the  heart  and 
obtain  the  spiritual  condition  of  every  dangerously  diseased 
patient,  not  only  for  his  own  spiritual  benefit,  but  also  for  the 
comfort  and  consolation  of  his  friends  at  home.  To  have  a  pa- 
tient brought  into  the  hospital,  who  had  sacrificed  his  life  for  his 
country,  and  die  before  we  could  learn  his  spiritual  condition,  as 
was  sometimes  the  case,  was  very  unpleasant.  Yet  when  the 
influx  of  mortally-wounded  and  fatally-diseased  patients  was  so 
great,  it  could  not  always  be  avoided.  Frequently  they  were 
brought  in  dead,  without  having  any  account  of  their  religious 
experience,  and  sometimes  even  without  a  record  of  their  name, 
company,  or  regiment. 

How  severe  the  ravages  of  war !  At  times,  when  the  mortality 
was  very  great,  I  have  frequently  been  called  to  the  bedside  of 
a  dying  patient  who  was  too  far  gone  to  even  express  a  hope  in 
Christ,  leaving  no  record  but  his  life  to  comfort  his  bereaved 
friends.  For  an  anxious,  aifectionate  mother,  or  devoted  wife,  to 
vear  of  the  death  of  a  dear  son  or  husband,  by  the  ruthless  hands 
of  infuriated  rebels,  was  trying  ;  but  to  hear  that  he  died  "  with- 
out hope,"  was  almost  overwhelming.  When  the  mighty  conflict 
was  raging  that  decided  the  fate  of  our  country,  and  the  news- 
papers were  teeming  with  the  accounts  of  bloody  battles  and  long 
lists  of  casualties,  all  know  with  what  deep  anxiety  those  rolls  of 


110  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

honor  were  searched  by  every  anxious  heart,  to  know  if  his  or 
her  own  particular  friend  was  among  the  fallen.  Much  similar 
was  the  anxiety  felt  by  those  at  home  who  had  clear  friends  in  the 
hospital.  Hence,  when  the  messenger  of  a  soldier's  death  reached 
the  throbbing  heart  of  his  bereaved  friends,  the  next  question 
was,  "  How  did  he  die  ?  What  were  his  prospects  for  eternity  ? 
What  was  his  disease,  or  wounds,"  etc.  All  such  questions  were 
proper  and  natural ;  and,  when  we  could,  we  always  answered 
them  with  pleasure,  and  did  what  we  could  to  console  and  com- 
fort the  bereaved,  mourning  friends  at  home.  Many  of  the  brave 
heroes  died  triumphant  deaths,  perfectly  resigned ;  and,  rising  above 
all  doubts  and  fears,  evincing  their  assurance  and  preparation  in 
such  words  as  these :  "  I  am  ready."  "  I  have  no  fear  of  death." 
"  The  Lord  is  mine."  "  Tell  my  wife  I  died  happy,"  etc.  When 
this  was  the  case,  to  despatch  a  death  notice  was  not  so  painful ; 
but  when  a  man  died  "  without  hope,"  sacrificing  his  life  for  the 
salvation  of  his  country,  and  dying  beside  the  Prince  of  Life, 
and  yet,  doubtless,  dying  to  die  the  death  that  never  dies,  to 
communicate  the  sad  intelligence  was  no  desirable  task.  We 
always  made  the  best  we  could  of  such  cases,  urging  the  bereaved 
friends  (at  home)  to  be  warned,  by  the  death  of  him  who  died 
defending  his  country,  to  "prepare  to  meet  their  God"  And  the 
replies  we  received  to  these  letters  were  usually  most  interesting 
and  touching.  Filled  with  gratitude,  patriotism,  tenderness,  sor- 
row, and  faith,  we  often  read  them  with  tears. 

Our  letters  describing  the  last  hours  of  the  departed  heroes, 
and  the  answers  we  received  in  reply  from  their  friends  at  home, 
if  collected,  would  make  a  very  interesting  book. 


LETTERS  FROM  THE  BEREAVED  AT  HOME  TO  THE 
CHAPLAIN  IN  THE  HOSPITAL. 

LETTER  No.  1.  — THE  BEREAVED  WIFE. 

Written  with  a  heart  gushing  with  grief  and  glowing  with 
connubial  affection,  it  cannot  fail  to  interest  every  reader. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  Ill 

PEASLEVILLE,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  13,  1865. 

REV.  FRIEND  :  —  With  a  trembling  hand  and  a  downcast 
heart,  I  take  the  liberty  to  write  a  few  lines  to  one  that  has  vis- 
ited my  dear  husband  in  his  last  moments.  Oh  !  is  it  possible 
that  he  is  gone,  and  I  am  never  to  behold  his  form  on  earth 
again?  Must  I  —  can  it  be  so?  God  has  called,  and  I  must 
submit  to  the  stroke,  though  severe.  He  has  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  relatives  that  deeply  mourn  our  loss.  He  was 
beloved  and  respected,  in  his  northern  home,  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  the  father  of  three  children  —  two  girls,  and  a 
boy  twelve  years  of  age.  They  have  looked  forward  to  the  time 
when  they  could  greet  him ;  but  their  hopes  are  all  blasted  with 
mine.  They  have  no  father  to  look  after  them  now  in  a  cold 
and  unfeeling  world.  Alone !  no  eye  to  pity,  no  arm  to  save, 
but  God.  By  diligence  and  proper  improvement  of  time,  he  has 
accumulated  a  quiet  home  for  his  family.  We  enjoyed  the  com- 
fort of  his  society  until  his  country  called  for  him ;  he  left  us  in 
the  hands  of  God,  and  went  forth  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  this 
great  strife  which  desolates  a  home  which  was  once  pleasant  and 
lovely.  The  rose  may  blossom  and  flowers  bloom  around  my 
lonely  dwelling  —  the  hand  that  planted  them  with  so  much  care 
lies  silent  in  the  tomb,  and  there  must  rest  until  God  shall  wake 
the  sleeping  dead.  Oh,  how  many  a  great  and  good  man  has 
fallen  to  save  and  preserve  the  Union,  so  the  living  can  have 
freedom  of  speech  and  liberty.  May  God  hasten  the  time  when 
it  can  be  said,  we  are  victorious ;  that  oppression  has  ceased,  and 
the  cord  which  bound  the  oppressed  is  broken ;  may  the  time 
soon  come  when  the  flag  of  honor  and  glory  may  find  a  resting- 
place  in  every  State  over  our  great  continent;  and  then  may  it 
wave  in  peace  and  security  until  time  is  no  longer  —  this  is  my 
prayer. 

N.  B.  Concerning  my  husband's  precious  remains,  if  it  is 
possible,  how  glad  would  I  be  to  have  him  buried  in  the  family 
bury  ing-ground  with  his  dear  connections;  so  that  when  I  am  done 
with  the  afflictions  of  this  life,  I  can  slumber  sweetly  by  his  side. 
Not  having  the  money  by  me,  I  wait  an  answer  from  you.  If 
you  will  take  the  trouble  to  let  me  know  how  much  it  would  cost 
me,  and  if  it  is  possible  for  me  to  raise  the  money,  I  shall.  But 
it  is  my  prayer  that  there  may  be  a  way  opened  so  that  his 
remains  can  be  sent  to  me.  I  cannot  bear  the  thought  of  having 
him  slumber  there,  away  from  home  and  all  that  was  dear  to  him 
on  earth.  Oh,  how  gladly  would  I  visit  the  ward  where  he  has  en- 
dured so  much  Buttering  and  toil,  and  spent  his  last  days  on  earth  ! 


112  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Oh,  how  can  I  give  him  up,  and  never  greet  that  form  again  ? 
If  thou  art  a  companion,  or  a  father,  thou  knowest  well  our  feel- 
ings. But  when  the  short  journey  of  life  is  concluded,  and  I  am 
done  with  sorrow  and  afflictions,  that  AVC  shall  meet  where  separa- 
tion is  unknown  forever.  My  prayer  shall  not  cease  for  that 
ward,  although  my  husband  is  called  away  by  death. 

Receive  this  from  the  hand  of  deep  affliction,  which  pen  can- 
not describe.  This  short  epistle  to  the  much-honored  chaplain  of 
Hampton  Hospital. 


LETTER  No.  2.  —  THE  BEREAVED  BROTHER. 

He  had  just  lost  his  only  brother  —  died  far  away,  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country.  Here  are  the  feelings  of  his  soul,  lament- 
ing his  loss,  and  expressions  of  gratitude  for  favors  shown  him 
in  his  last  sufferings. 

NEW  HAVEN,  July  30,  1865. 

MR.  BILLINGSLEY,  AND  FRIEND  :  —  I  received  your  letter  con- 
taining the  sad  intelligence  of  my  brother's  death,  the  youngest, 
and  only  brother,  —  my  eldest  having  died  only  one  year  and  six 
months  ago.  Your  sympathy  for  me,  in  my  sad  trial  and  bereave- 
ment, I  assure  you,  I  appreciate  more  than  pen  and  ink  can  de- 
scribe ;  while  you  kindly  assure  me  he  fared  well,  and  I  am  some- 
what consoled.  I  am  grieved  that  I  cannot  learn  the  date  of 
death,  where  and  when  he  was  wounded.  I  wrote  to  Washing- 
ton, as  you  advised,  but  without  the  much-desired  information. 
I  received  an  answer.  Please  accept  my  heartfelt  thanks  for 
kindness  in  writing  the  particulars  so  far  as  you  were  at  liberty 
to  do. 

Your  letter,  with  its  contents,  will  ever  be  a  sad  comfort  to 
me.  Should  you  ever  visit  New  Haven,  I  should  be  most  grate- 
ful for  a  visit  from  you.  I  shall  bring  his  remains  home  as  soon 
as  they  can  be  obtained. 

Yours  gratefully,  . 


LETTER  No.  8.  —  THE  WEEPING  WIDOW. 

Though  written  with  a  pen  dipped  in  grief,  and  with  a  soul 
bowed  down  with  sorrow,  yet  it  breathes  such  a  spirit  of  submis- 
sion under  the  heavy  stroke,  and  the  writer  seems  to  derive  so 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  113 

much  comfort  in  the  sad  trial  from  God's  word,  that  it  cannot 

be  read  without  profit. 

DONEGAL,  PA.,  April  18, 1865. 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  :  —  I  received  your  letter  of  the  4th  on 
the  12th  —  the  sad  news  of  my  dear  husband's  death.  Oh  !  was 
ever  sorrow  equal  to  mine  ?  I  cannot  describe  my  feelings  when 
I  came  to  where  you  said,  your  dear  departed  husband.  Oh  !  I 
thought,  can  this  be  so  ?  Yet  it  is.  I  thank  you  very  much  for 
your  kind  letter,  and  your  kindness  to  my  dear  companion  in  his 
affliction.  Your  admonitions,  your  portions  of  divine  truth,  they 
have  been  read  over  and  over ;  and,  oh,  what  consolation  I  find 
in  these  lines,  Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  correctcth  ; 
therefore,  despise  not  the  chastening  of  the  Almighty.  For  He 
maketh  sore,  and  bindeth  up  the  wounds ;  and  His  hands  make 
whole.  He  shall  deliver  them  in  six  troubles;  yea,  in  seven 
there  shall  no  evil  touch  them. 

No  tongue  can  express  my  grief.  My  friends  here  are  trying 
to  persuade  me  to  leave  his  body  there,  as  you  say  he  is  buried 
decent ;  and  they  tell  me  I  could  not  see  him  if  I  would  have 
him  brought  home.  But,  oh,  I  think  it  cannot  be !  But  his 
remains  must  come.  They  tell  me  it  will  cost  at  least  an  hun- 
dred dollars.  I  am  in  rather  poor  circumstances,  and  know  not 
what  to  do ;  but,  if  you  please,  see  that  the  board  that  marks  his 
grave  is  well  put  in,  so  that,  after  a  while,  I  perhaps  can  have 
him  home.  If  you  please,  be  so  kind  and  write  me  again,  and 
tell  me  if  he  said  anything  concerning  me  or  my  poor  little  chil- 
dren. I  am  left  with  four  dear  children  —  the  oldest  not  nine,  and 
the  youngest  two,  years  old  ;  but  I  trust  that  my  Father  in  heaven 
will  be  their  father  and  the  widow's  husband.  My  hope  of  heaven 
is  bright.  I  am  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  have 
been  for  near  eleven  years ;  and  I  love  all  Christians,  let  them  be 
of  what  name  or  order.  And  please  let  me  know  what  branch 
of  the  Christian  church  you  are  connected  with ;  and  I  hope  that 
we'll  all  meet  in  heaven  at  last. 

I  am  also  very  grateful  to  you  for  a  lock  of  my  companion's 
hair.  Your  marks  of  kindness  shall  never  be  forgotten  while 
memory  lasts ;  and  my  prayer  is  that  you  may  see  the  work  of 
the  Lord  prosper  in  your  hands. 

I  ask  an  interest  in  your  prayers :  we  are  here  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  oft  are  tempted ;  but  Christ  is  sufficient  to  bring  us  out 
conquerors  and  more. 

I  think  now,  if  my  dear  husband  had  only  been  permitted  to 
get  home  to  die,  that  I  would  not  murmur.  But  this  is  hard. 
8 


114  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

And  then,  when  I  reflect,  I  think  it  is  all  right,  and  I  should 
feel  thankful  that  he  is  now  happy,  and  that  he  did  not  fall  on 
the  battle-field.  And  may  God  hasten  the  day  when  war  shall 
cease. 

I  will  close  by  saying  please  answer  this  soon. 
Your  sorrowful  friend, 


LETTER  No.  4.  — THE  DYING  SOLDIER'S  LETTER  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

It  was  his  last  farewell  letter.  He  indicted  it  himself  as  he 
lay  on  his  bed  in  the  hospital,  nigh  unto  death.  To  see  the 
dying  father,  with  weeping  eyes,  bid  farewell  to  his  far-off  wife 
and  children,  was  peculiarly  touching. 


HAMPTON  HOSPITAL,      "1 
FORTRESS  MONROE,  NOT.  28,  1864.  / 

MY  DEAR  WIFE  :  —  I  am  sick — low  with  diarrhoea;  I  don't 
expect  to  get  well.  But  I  feel  that  I  am  going  to  a  better  world. 
I  feel  prepared  to  die ;  and  hope  and  trust  and  pray  you  will 
meet  me  in  heaven.  Bid  farewell  to  Catharine  and  David  for 
me.  If  you  live  to  raise  the  children,  raise  them  to  the  religion 
of  the  Bible.  Religion  seems  more  precious  and  valuable  to  me 
now  than  ever  before.  If  you  choose,  come  and  take  my  remains 
home.  I  have  no  doubts  of  heaven.  I  never  felt  so  happy  be- 
fore. All  is  bright  and  clear.  "My  title  is  clear  to  mansions  in 
the  skies."  That  God  may  abundantly  bless  you  and  the  chil- 
dren is  my  prayer.  Farewell. 

Your  Affectionate  Husband. 


LETTER  No.  5.  —  A  WEEPING  SOUTHERN  FAMILY. 

This  letter,  although  coming  from  the  other  side  of  the  strug- 
gle, and  written  shortly  after  "the  surrender,"  yet,  being  so  full 
of  sorrow  and  grief  of  a  bereaved  family,  and  breathing  such  a 
strong  paternal  and  grateful  spirit,  it  will  no  doubt  be  read  with 
deep  interest  by  many. 

MONTGOMERY,  ALA.,  July,  1865. 

SIR: — Yours  of  the  twenty-fifth  May,  addressed  to  my  father, 
Mr.  C.  Stokes,  informing  him  of  the  death  of  my  only  brother, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  115 

Andrew  J.  Stokes,  has  just  been  received.  We  had  already 
received  the  bitter  intelligence;  but  are  none  the  less  indebted 
and  thankful  to  you  for  your  note.  Although  you  are  an  entire 
stranger  to  our  once  happy,  but  now  gloomy,  household,  on  be- 
half of  the  entire  family  allow  me  to  return  to  you  our  most 
heartfelt  thanks  for  the  attention  and  care  you  bestowed  upon  the 
deceased.  And  although  in  the  busy  struggle  of  life  our  paths  may 
never  meet,  rest  assured,  my  dear  sir,  that  under  whatever  suns, 
or  upon  whatever  seas,  it  may  please  an  all-wise  God  to  cast  us, 
we  shall  never,  never  forget  you,  who  pointed  the  soul  of  him 
we  loved  so  well  to  the  brightly-beaming  star  of  Faith  and  Hope. 
The  day  we  received  your  sad,  but  comforting  letter,  because  it 
bid  us,  "  Be  of  good  cheer,"  "  It  is  thy  Father's  will,"  was  the 
anniversary  of  the  third  year  since  last  he  was  with  us.  Then, 
in  the  prime  of  his  young,  but  noble  manhood,  he  left  us — now, 
poor  boy,  he  sleeps  the  quiet  sleep  of  death  in  a  far-off,  strangers' 
land.  Pardon  me  for  these  ebullitions  of  private  grief,  but  truly, 
indeed,  has  it  been  written,  — 

"Oh,  what  a  shadow  o'er  the  heart  is  flung, 
When  peals  the  requiem  of  the  loved  and  young." 

Again  accept  our  thanks  for  your  very  kind  attentions,  and 
believe  that  when  we  "  bend  the  knee "  to  invoke  the  blessings 
of  Heaven;  whenever  memory  shall  revert  to  the  joyous  days  of 
yore,  we  shall  ask  that  same  kind  and  righteous  power  to  shower 
blessings  upon  you,  so  that  when  your  race  is  run,  you  may  rest 
in  the  bosom  of  the  omnipotent  God. 

With  profound  respect, 

I  remain,  truly  yours, 


CANVASSING  THE  PATIENTS'  HEARTS. 

One  of  the  most  laborious  and  important  duties  of  the  hospital 
chaplain  was  to  canvass  the  hearts  of  the  patients.  And  at  one 
time  we  knew  the  spiritual  diagnosis  of  almost  every  patient  in 
the  hospital.  This  was  all-important;  for  it  matters  but  little 
who  has  the  head,  if  Satan  has  the  heart.  The  heart  governs. 
True  religion  is  heart-work.  Christianity  is  the  religion  of  the 
heart.  Hence  the  divine  injunctions,  "  Give  me  thy  heart"  "  Thou 
shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,"  and  "  Keep 
thy  heart  with  all  diligence,  for  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life." 


116  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Hence,  in  talking  with  the  patients,  we  always  endeavored  to  get 
at  and  get  down  deep  into  their  hearts.  And  although,  with 
some,  it  is  difficult  to  reach  the  heart,  yet  we  scarcely  ever  found 
it  so  with  the  soldier  in  the  army.  Accustomed  to  acts  of  heroism, 
soldiers  are  generally  less  ashamed,  and  more  free  to  talk  about 
religion  in  the  army,  than  at  home.  And  why  should  they  not 
be  ?  What  a  shame  to  the  Christian  religion  that  professors  talk 
so  little  about  it.  In  days  of  old,  it  was  written,  "  they  that 
fear  the  Lord,  spake  often  one  to  another."  Religious  conversa- 
tion is  not  only  instructive,  but  strengthening  and  refreshing  to 
the  Christian,  and  very  beneficial  to  the  sinner.  It  warms  the 
heart  and  fires  the  soul.  Hence  we  often  found  it  difficult  to  get 
away  from  the  sick  and  wounded  soldier.  When  about  to  start 
from  the  bedside,  I  have  heard  them  plead  thus:  "O  chaplain, 
don't  go  away.  Can't  you  stay,  and  talk  to  me  more  about 
Jesus?"  and  giving  him  a  warm  shake  of  the  hands,  with  a 
hearty  "good-by,"  accompanied  with  the  earnest  exhortation, 
''Trust  in  the  Lord"  together  with  the  comprehensive  prayer, 
"May  God  bless  you"  it  was  hard  to  tear  ourselves  away  from 
their  warm  hearts.  To  sit  down,  read  and  explain  appropriate 
passages  of  Scripture,  and  enjoy  a  free,  frank,  unrestrained,  social 
talk  with  the  brave  heroes,  and  to  see  the  penitential  tear  trickle 
down  their  furrowed  cheeks,  was  always  touching  and  refreshing. 
They  were  not  afraid  or  ashamed  to  unbosom  their  hearts,  uiul 
tell  us  all  about  their  lives  and  religious  experience.  If  they 
prayed,  they  would  say  so ;  if  not,  they  would  frankly  acknowl*- 
edge  it.  When  we  put  the  question,  "Do  you  swear?"  they 
frankly  answered,  "  Yes,"  or  "  No,"  or  "  Yes,  I  swear  sometimes, 
when  excited,"  as  the  case  might  be.  If  they  enjoyed  religion, 
they  would  tell  you  •  if  not,  they  would  frankly  acknowledge  it. 
If  they  were  seeking  it,  they  were  not  ashamed  to  confess  it. 
I  asked  one  lovely  boy,  severely  wounded,  under  deep  conviction, 
bathed  in  tears,  with  anxiety  about  his  salvation,  "What  hinders 
you  from  getting  religion?"  He  promptly  replied,  "Pride,  and 
my  hard  heart,  I  suppose,"  and,  wringing  his  heart  with  contri- 
tion, the  big  tears  flowed  down  his  pale  cheeks.  With  one  leg 
off  above  the  knee,  there  he  lay  for  many  days  watering  his 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  117 

couch  with  tears,  given  up  by  the  ward-master  and  surgeon  to 
die.  He  was  a  noble  boy.  I  wept  and  prayed  much  for  him ; 
virned  and  entreated  him  to  come  to  the  Saviour,  and,  on  my 
entering  his  ward  shortly  after,  I  saw  his  face  lit  up  with  smiles, 
and  on  asking,  "How  are  you  to-day,  Henry?"  he  replied,  "I 
am  better.  The  burden  is  removed ;  I  think  I  have  found  the 
Saviour.  Oh,  what  a  precious  Saviour ! "  We  sent  for  his  father. 
He  came.  Henry  got  better,  and  went  home,  leaving  one  leg 
and  a  large  portion  of  his  patriotic  blood  upon  the  field  of  battle 
to  water  the  tree  of  Liberty. 

We  often  met  with  soldiers  well  versed  in  Scripture,  who  were 
rich  and  fluent  in  religious  conversation.  Some  of  them  seemed  to 
have  the  Bible  at  their  fingers'  end.  Others,  with  less  knowledge 
of  God  in  the  head,  but  with  more  of  Christ  in  the  heart ;  their 
lips  teemed  "  with  words  that  glow,  and  thoughts  that  burn," 
about  the  story  of  the  cross,  and  their  own  religious  experience. 
To  talk  and  pray  with  them  was  a  great  privilege.  I  have  gone 
away  from  their  bedsides  instructed,  encouraged,  and  much  re- 
freshed. To  witness  the  frequent  bright  conversions,  their  deep 
religious  experience,  triumphant  deaths,  and  bright  prospects  of  a 
glorious  immortality  exhibited,  by  their  own  language,  in  such 
words  as  these  :  "  I  am  ready;"  "The  Lord  is  mine*;"  "I  have 
no  fear  of  death;"  "Tell  my  wife  I  died  happy;"  "All  is 
well,"  etc.,  were  truly  refreshing  to  the  soul.  And  often  very 
striking  religious  expressions  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  colored 
patients.  Having  fewer  religious  and  theological  ideas  than  white 
people,  what  they  have  seem  to  take  a  deep  hold  and  make  a 
very  deep  impression  upon  them.  More  simple  and  confiding 
in  their  views  and  habits,  they  seem  to  believe  more  and  doubt  less, 
according  to  the  light  they  have,  than  the  whites.  Taking  God 
at  his  word,  they  seem  to  know  nothing  about  doubting  or  unbe- 
lief. And  being  full  of  the  warmest  emotions,  they  often  give 
vent  to  very  vivid  and  striking  impressions,  such  as  the  follow- 
ing: "I  thank  God  for  my  wound:  it  has  knocked  the  feeling 
of  revenge  out  of  me,  and  brought  me  nearer  to  God."  "Before 
it,  I  would  cry,  '  Fort  Pillow,  and  let  'em  have  it;'  but  now  I 
would  spare  a  rebel  on  his  knees."  Another  says,  "  I  am  ready 


118  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

to  go  any  time ; "  *'  I  have  got  more  than  all  the  world  can 
give  ; "  "I  don't  want."  Another  earnestly  prayed,  " Save  me, 
Lord !  save  me,  Lord !  "  Another  says,  "  When  I  go  into  battle,  I 
put  Jesus  in  front,  and  I  don't  fear,"  etc.  Speaking  right  out  from 
the  heart,  their  thoughts  are  original,  quick,  and  powerful. 
Many  of  them  are  remarkably  earnest  and  powerful  in  prayer. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   WOMEN   OF   THE   HOSPITAL. 

THEIR  VALUABLE  SERVICES  HIGHLY  APPRECIATED  BY  THE  PATIENTS 

—  CHESAPEAKE  HOSPITAL  WELL  SUPPLIED  —  HERE  MRS.  MARY  B. 
DULLY  WAS  DIRECTRESS  AND  HEAD  OF  SANITARY  DEPARTMENT  — 
"  SHE  DID  WHAT  SHE  COULD  "  —  MlSS  AMOS,  OF  BALTIMORE,  KlND, 
FAITHFUL,  AND  TRUE — MRS.  CHAPLAIN  E.  P.  ROE  —  "SHE  WENT 
ABOUT  DOING  GOOD"  —  MRS.  MEECHAM  AND  MANY  OTHERS  DID 
LIKEWISE  —  MRS.  CARVER,  WITH  HER  TENT,  COOKING-STOVE,  AND 
PROVISIONS,  DID  MUCH  FOR  THE  PATIENTS — MRS.  MARY  ALEXANDER 

—  PLAIN,  EARNEST,  HEROIC,  LOVED  THE  SOLDIERS  ARDENTLY  — 
"  BURY  ME.  WITH  THEM,  WHEN  I  DIE." 

the  wearied,  sick,  or  wounded  soldier,  so  long  from  home, 
and  deprived  of  the  affectionate  smiles  of  mother,  father, 
wife,  and  children,  a  visit  from  no  one  seemed  to  do  them  so  much 
good  as  from  a  kind,  cheerful,  sympathizing  lady.  Made  up  so 
much  of  tenderness,  affection,  and  sympathy,  a  good  woman  can 
cheer  and  comfort  when  none  else  but  God  can.  And  so  long 
exposed  to  the  asperities  of  war,  those  messengers  of  mercy  always 
met  with  a  hearty  welcome  from  the  patient  in  the  hospital. 
Hence  every  well  regulated  hospital  was  well  furnished  with 
competent  matrons.  Many  a  sick  and  wounded  soldier  and 
officer  has  been  greatly  comforted  in  their  sick  and  dying  hours 
by  the  sympathy  and  soothing  power  of  woman's  kindness.  At 
the  Chesapeake,  every  ward  had  its  own  matron,  whose  duty 
was  to  give  out  medicine,  provide  suitable  food  and  delicacies 
for  the  most  needy  patients.  In  this  way  doubtless,  under  God, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  119 

they  saved  the  lives  of  many  a  patient.  Besides  this  very  im- 
portant work,  they  did  much  in  cheering  up,  reading  and  talking 
to,  and  writing  letters  for,  the  patients,  and  in  a  thousand  ways 
added  much  to  their  comfort.  » 


MRS.  MARY  B.  DULLY. 

At  the  Chesapeake,  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Dully,  directress  of  this 
division  of  the  hospital,  stood  at  the  head  of  the  sanitary  depart- 
ment, and  with  a  liberal,  prudent  hand  gave  out  the  rich  sup- 
plies of  cordials,  dainties,  clothing,  etc.,  furnished  through  the 
liberality  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  sent  chiefly  from  Pitts- 
burg,  Pa.  Intrusted  with  the  internal  affairs  of  the  hospital, 
she  presided  over  them  with  dignity  and  honor  to  herself  and 
satisfaction  to  all  concerned.  Hailing  from  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
with  a  heart  full  of  patriotic  ardor,  she  entered  the  service,  at 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  in  the  old  Hygiea  Hospital  near  the 
fort,  and  came  here  when  that  closed. 

Marked  for  discretion,  she  succeeded  in  gathering  around  her 
a  corps  of  competent  ladies,  well  qualified  for  the  arduous  work 
of  nursing  the  sick  and  wounded.  With  a  head  "  silvered  over 
with  age,"  she  always  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table,  and  presided 
with  ease  and  dignity.  Possessing  good  executive  abilities,  and 
wielding  a  fine  moral  influence,  her  administration  was  a  perfect 
success.  But  she  not  only  managed  the  hospital  affairs  well,  but, 
possessing  a  heart  glowing  with  kindness,  and  swelling  with  com- 
passion for  the  sick  and  wounded  officers  and  soldiers,  she  labored 
faithfully,  and,  like  Mary  of  old,  "  did  what  she  could"  to  cheer 
and  comfort  them.  I  have  seen  her  sit  for  hours  endeavoring, 
with  all  her  characteristic  tenderness,  to  ease  the  pains  and  soothe 
the  sorrows  of  the  dying  hero. 

Thus  she  continued  to  labor  until  the  hospital  closed;  and 
being  a  warm  friend  of  the  freedmen,  then  fell  in  and  labored  for 
them.  She  hath  wrought  a  good  work.  The  Lord  reward  her 
abundantly  for  it. 

Miss  Amos,  of  Baltimore,  was  another  faithful  laborer  in  this 
good  work,  who,  in  her  meek,  winning,  unobtrusive  manner  did 


120  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

so  much  in  administering  to  the  wants  and  comforts  of  the 
patients.  Mild  and  prepossessing  in  her  ways,  she  was  always 
a  welcome  visitor  at  the  bedside  of  the  patient.  For  a  long  while 
she  was  a  very  acceptable  matron  of  one  of  the  principal  wards 
in  the  officers'  division,  but  was  afterward  sent  to  "New  Camp" 
to  labor  for  the  well-being  and  comforts  of  the  private  soldier. 
She  was  afterward  assigned' to  duty  in  one  of  the  more  prominent 
wards  of  the  Hampton  division  of  the  hospital,  where,  through 
her  laborious  work,  she  became  sick,  as  did  several  other  matrons, 
from  hard  labor  and  rooming  in  small  rooms  in  one  end  of  their 
respective  wards.  Among  many  others  of  equal  worth,  energy, 
and  self-denial  in  their  painstaking  and  arduous  efforts  in  caring 
for  and  supplying  the  wants  of  the  patients  at  the  Chesapeake, 
(as  we  have  not  time  and  space  to  speak  fully  of  them  all,)  were 
Miss  J.  E.  Bently,  Mrs.  D.  W.  Holt,  Mrs.  Campbell,  Mrs.  Jane 
M.  Worrell,  Miss  Preston,  Miss  E.  Woleott,  and  several  others 
whose  names  we  have  forgotten. 

At  Hampton,  they  acted  the  same  part.  But  here,  the  matrons 
being  fewer  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  patients,  each  matron 
had  a  much  wider  field  of  labor.  Sometimes  there  were  but 
three  or  four  matrons  in  all  the  division.  Then  they  went  round 
and  visited  from  ward  to  ward,- paying  particular  attention  to  the 
worst  cases. 

MRS.  CHAPLAIN  E.  P.  EOE, 

from  New  York,  for  a  while  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1864  took 
an  active  part  in  this  noble  work.  With  her  kind  heart,  liberal 
hand,  and  cheerful  countenance,  she  went  round  through  the 
wards,  administering  both  to  the  temporal  and  spiritual  wants 
of  the  patients.  Supplied  with  cordials  and  articles  of  clothing, 
wherever  she  found  a  needy  patient,  she  supplied  him  with  these 
things.  And  having  supplied  their  temporal  wants,  she  often 
ministered  to  them  spiritually,  in  reading  and  talking  to  them, 
pointing  them  to  Christ,  and  urging  them  to  immediate  repentance. 
With  her  Christian  zeal  and  characteristic  tenderness,  she  did 
much  to  relieve  the  suffering  soldiers.  On  the  opposite  page  is 
a  picture  of  her  reading  to  a  wounded  soldier. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAE.  121 

MRS.  MEECHAM, 

of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  who  spent  some  two  or  three  years  in  this 
home  of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldier,  by  her  good  sense  and 
adaptedness  to  the  work,  was  a  perfect  veteran  in  administering 
to  the  wants  and  comforts  of  the  patients.  She  was  a  sweet 
singer,  and  by  her  enchanting  music  did  much  to  ease  the  pains, 
soothe  the  sorrows,  and  cheer  the  hearts  of  the  suffering.  Be- 
sides after  leading  the  singing  at  church,  she  always  went  around 
with  the  choir  to  sing  in  the  wards.  This  exercise,  very  accept- 
able and  cheering  to  the  patients,  was  usually  conducted  by 
Chaplain  Roe,  and  generally  attended  to  on  Sabbath  afternoons. 
The  chaplain,  accompanied  by  the  choir,  would  enter  a  ward, 
read  a  suitable  passage  of  Scripture,  followed  by  the  enlivening 
music.  After  singing  two  or  three  pieces,  they  would  go  on  to 
the  next  ward.  They  usually  sung  every  Sabbath.  Part  of  the 
time  it  was  omitted. 

MRS.  CARVER. 

Although  she  was  not  connected  with  the  hospital,  and  had 
no  relative  therein,  she  there  did  a  good  work.  Deeply  con- 
cerned for  the  salvation  of  the  country,  and  deeply  interested  in 
the  welfare  of  the  soldier,  this  noble  -  hearted  lady  came  from 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  to  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  to  labor  for  their 
comfort.  Amply  provided  with  cooking-stoves  and  cooking- 
utensils,  and  a  rich  supply  of  flour,  meats,,  fruits,  fowls,  and  deli- 
cacies, she  came  here  first  in  the  summer  of  1864,  and  located 
herself  in  a  remote  part  of  the  hospital,  in  the  north-east  corner 
of  New  Camp.  Here,  through  the  surgeon  in  charge,  she  soon 
had  a  comfortable  tent  erected,  put  up  her  cooking-stove,  hung 
out  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  commenced  operation  on  her  own 
hook.  Thus  prepared,  she  set  about  the  great  work  in  good 
earnest,  and  baking  bread  and  pies,  and  preparing  all  sorts  of 
good  things  in  best  style,  the  heart  of  many  a  suffering  soldier 
was  made  glad  through  her  incessant  labors  and  bountiful  lib- 
erality. And  having  prepared  her  rich  provisions,  she  would  gc 
round  through  the  wards  and  look  up  the  most  needy  patients, 


122  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  with  eagerness  administer  to  their  wants.  Possessed  with  a 
magnanimous  spirit  and  a  tender,  sympathizing  heart  and  a  lofty 
patriotism,  she  was  a  true  friend  of  the  soldier,  and  delighted  to 
give  and  labor  for  his  comfort.  The  first  time  I  met  her  was  in 
a  tent  in  New  Camp,  endeavoring  to  comfort  a  distressed,  suffer- 
ing soldier.  At  her  request  I  went  in,  read,  conversed,  and 
prayed  with  him,  endeavoring  to  pour  into  his  soul  the  consola- 
tions of  the  gospel.  Here,  and  in  this  way,  she  continued  her 
good  work  and  labor  of  love  until  late  in  the  fall,  and  then  went 
home.  But,  without  growing  weary  in  well  doing  and  with 
unabated  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  soldier,  she  returned  the 
following  summer,  with  a  fresh  supply  of  provision,  and  opened 
out  her  Sanitary  Tent  again  near  ward  twenty-seven,  close  by  the 
head-quarters  of  Hampton  Hospital.  Here,  with  renewed  vigor 
and  liberality,  she  prepared  and  dealt  out  her  good  things  to  the 
worthy  suffering  defenders  of  our  country.  What  she  did  in  the 
great  conflict  for  the  Union  in  other  parts  of  the  army,  we  do  not 
know ;  but  for  what  she  has  done  here,  she  deserves  to  be  en- 
shrined in  the  memory  of  every  American  patriot. 


MRS.  MARY  ALEXANDER. 

Of  all  the  matrons  of  the  U.  S.  General  Hospital,  Fortress 
Monroe,  Va.,  for  fidelity,  self-denial,  and  devotion  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  sick  and  wounded,  there  were  none  that  excelled 
Mrs.  Mary  Alexander.  Deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of  free- 
dom, she  entered  the  service  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and 
sacrificed  her  life  in  the  noble  cause.  Born  and  brought  up 
among  the  mountains  of  Switzerland,  the  principles  of  liberty 
were  deeply  instilled  in  her  mind,  and  they  burned  warmly  upon 
the  altar  of  her  patriotic  heart.  A  love  of  liberty  was  the  ruling 
passion  of  her  soul.  A  true,  .devoted  friend  of  the  soldiers,  she 
nursed  them  as  her  own  children ;  and  they  loved  her  as  a  mother. 
Trusting  in  God  for  help  and  success,  when  laboring  with  a  pa- 
tient severely  wounded  or  dangerously  diseased,  she  would  say, 
"We  will  try  and  save  him, by  the  help  of  God."  And,  doubtless, 
it  was  her  reliance  upon  God  for  help  that  made  her  so  devoted 


CHRISTIANITY    IIS    THE    WAR.  123 

and  successful  in  her  noble  work  and  labor  of  love.  Stout- 
hearted, heavy-set,  with  a  strong,  muscular  frame,  she  was  well 
calculated  to  endure  hardness.  Firmness,  energy,  persever- 
ance, and  determination  were  some  of  the  leading  traits  of  her 
character.  Blessed  with  good  sense  and  sound  judgment,  plain 
and  unassuming,  she  was  a  woman  of  few  words,  distinguished 
more  for  her  deeds  than  for  words.  Acting  the  part  of  both 
wound-dresser  and  ward-matron,  when  it  was  necessary  for  the 
good  of  the  patient  to  pour  into  his  gangrened  wound  the  burn- 
ing, smarting  tincture,  she  possessed  the  nerve  to  do  it,  even 
though  the  patient  would  sometimes  scream  out  with  anguish 
and  pain.  Having  so  many  bad  cases  in  her  ward,  and  being  so 
much  exposed  to  the  impurities  of  the  patients,  through  her 
excessive  labor  and  toil  by  day  and  night,  she  contracted  a 
malignant  fever,  which  carried  her  off  in  eight  or  ten  days. 
Devotedly  attached  to  the  soldiers  while  living,  she  said  "Bury 
me  with  them,  when  dead"  Her  request  was  granted.  In  the 
centre  of  a  small  triangular  lot,  reserved  for  flowers  in  the  centre 
of  the  soldiers'  graveyard,  her  mortal  remains  were  buried  with  all 
the  pomp  and  honors  of  war.  Having  lived  to  see  the  rebellion 
quelled,  the  slave  freed,  and  the  country  saved,  patient  and 
resigned  she  passed  away,  April  23,  1865,  at  five  o'clock  p.  M., 
crowned  with  the  glories  of  martyrdom.  She  died  in  the  Chesa- 
peake Hospital.  Her  funeral  was  large,  solemn,  and  imposing. 
The  corpse,  beautifully  decorated  with  garlands  of  roses  and 
wreaths  of  flowers,  wrapped  in  a  fine  shroud  and  inclosed  in  a  neat 
coffin,  was  placed  in  the  parlor,  richly  draped  in  mourning  in 
honor  of  the  death  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  And  there,  standing 
in  the  aisle,  thronged  with  officers,  ladies,  and  soldiers,  Chaplain 
E.  P.  Roe,  U.S.A.,  preached  an  appropriate  sermon  from  the 
following  words,  "  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant, 
enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  The  exercises  were  very 
solemn  and  deeply  impressive.  The  procession,  headed  by  the 
hospital  band  discoursing  mournful  music,  was  grand  and  im- 
posing. Having  labored  faithfully  with  the  soldiers  in  the  field 
and  hospital,  she  now  rests  with  them  in  the  grave.  There  she 
lies,  waiting  the  voice  of  the  last  trumpet,  "  when  all  will  meet 


124  CHKISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

again  around  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ."  There  she  lies,  with 
her  noble  soul  disembodied,  and  washed,  we  trust,  in  the  blood 
of  Jesus,  has  gone  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  redeemed  in  heaven, 
where  there  will  be  no  more  war,  where  God  himself  shall  wipe 
away  all  tears.  She  deserves  a  monument  more  durable  than 
brass.  Let  it  rise. 


CHAPTER  X. 

SKETCHES   OF   SOLDIERS. 

"PAST  FEELING"  —  PATCHWORK  WON'T  DO  FOR  ETERNITY  —  "JESUS 
SAVED  ME  TWICE"  —  "I  NEVER  FORGET  MY  SAVIOUR" — THE 
BLIND  EXHORTER  —  "I  HAVE  VERY  SWEET  COMMUNION  WITH 
GOD  "  —  His  DEATH  —  LETTER  FROM  His  WIFE  —  CORPORAL  JOHN 
CREED,  23o  ILL.,  Co.  B.  — HONORED  FOR  His  BRAVERY  —  SOLDIERS 
DIE  CLINCHED — COURAGE  OF  POMPEY  —  JOY  AN  ELEMENT  OF 
STRENGTH  —  ANANIAS  MONTGOMERY  —  "  HE  HAD  A  BALL  IN  His 
SIDE,  AND  GOD  IN  His  HEART"  —  "I  FEEL  HAPPY "  —  THE  BACK- 
SLIDER—  "I  LOST  MY  RELIGION"  —  "Now  I  AM  MISERABLE"  — 
GEORGE  H.  VANLOAN — "I  DO  LOVE  HIM" — "!T  WOULD  BE 
HARD  TO  LIVE  IN  THE  ARMY  WITHOUT  EELIGION  "  —  THE  FIXED 
HEART  —  "I  PRAY  OFTEN "  —  " I  DO  FEEL  HAPPY"  —  "I  AM 
Too  WICKED  FOR  THAT"  —  I  SWEAR  A  GREAT  DEAL" — "I 
CAN'T  PRAY"  —  "Tr's  Too  LATE" — "I  AM  A  GREAT  SINNER" — 
"I  HAVE  GIVEN  UP"  —  "!T  is  BETTER  TO  DIE"  —  "I  AM  WILL- 
ING TO  GO  "  —  "  ALL  is  WELL  "  —  MIDNIGHT  CALLS  —  "  O  CHAPLAIN, 
I  FEEL  MOST  AWFUL  ! " 

"PAST  FEELING." 

SITTING  beside  a  pale,  languid  soldier,  one  day,  in  ward 
number  seven,  endeavoring  to  probe  his  conscience  and  stir 
his  soul  upon  the  subject  of  immediate  repentance,  and  finding 
him  hard  to  reach,  the  kind,  compassionate  matron  came  up,  and 
cried  out,  "Comfort  him!  comfort  Aim/"  whereupon  I  immedi- 
ately replied,  "  The  soldier's  heart,  like  his  wound,  must  be 
probed  before  it  can  be  healed  or  comforted.  To  comfort  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  125 

soul  while  the  heart  is  embedded  in  sin  is  impossible.  What 
caused  this  great  national  disturbance?  Why  is  our  country 
deluged  with  blood  to-day  ?  What  is  the  cause  ?  It  is  sin.  Sin 
is  the  great  disturber  in  this  world.  It  is  sin  that  robs  man  of 
comfort ;  and  so  long  as  it  lies  on  the  heart  unrepented  of,  there 
can  be  no  lasting  peace.  Sin  has  dug  hell ;  and  God  says,  '  The 
wicked  shall  be  turned  into  hell ; '  and  I  wish  to  say  to  you,  my 
dear  friend,  you  must  soon  repent  or  perish,  turn  or  die.  And, 
as  Whitefield  says,  '  It  is  better  to  hear  of  he\l,  than  to  feel  it/ 
we  wish  to  give  you  fair  warning.  Patchwork  may  do  for  time, 
but  it  will  not  do  for  eternity.  It  won't  stand  the  test  of  the 
great  heart-searching  God,  whose  eyes  are  as  a  flaming  fire.  If 
you  build  on  the  sand,  when  the  floods  of  God's  wrath  rise,  you 
will  be  swept  away.  The  natural  heart  is  such  a  sink  of  iniquity 
that,  unless  it  is  deeply  probed  by  God's  Spirit,  and  washed  in 
Christ's  blood,  there  can  be  no  true  peace  on  earth  and  no  hap- 
piness in  heaven.  A  wound  may  be  healed  over  with  corruption 
within,  but  it  will  soon  break  out  again ;  so  you  may  smooth 
over,  and  patch  the  old  stony  heart,  and  obtain  a  little  transient 
comfort;  but  unless  it  be  thoroughly  cleansed,  like  the  troubled 
sea,  that  cannot  rest,  it  will  continually  be  casting  up  mire  and 
dirt.  So  long  a?  Satan  sits  enthroned  within,  and  retains  posses- 
sion of  the  heart,  the  ebullitions  of  envy,  strife,  and  unhallowed 
ambition  will  continue  to  rise,  and  keep  the  whole  man  in  a 
continual  commotion.  A  small  leak  will  sink  a  great  ship ;  and 
a  small  sin,  unrepented  of,  will  sink  the  soul  to  hell.  Hence  we 
learn  the  importance  of  a  change  of  heart  and  complete  sanctifica- 
tion.  Oh,  then,  we  beseech  you,  my  dear  friend,  give  your  heart 
to  God !  Surrender  the  old  heart,  and  God  will  give  you  a  new 
one.  You  have  had  many  warnings.  God  still  waits  to  be 
gracious.  Jesus  still  cries,  '  Come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give  you 
rest.' "  I  preached  to  him,  conversed  and  prayed  with  him  ; 
urged  and  besought  him  by  the  mercies  of  God,  by  the  love  of 
<  'hrist,  and  by  the  joys  of  heaven,  to  fly  to  Jesus ;  yet  all  seemed 
to  make  but  little  or  no  impression.  His  heart  seemed  bam-d 
against  the  truth.  He  seemed  to  be  past  feeling,  and  the  story 
of  the  cross  appeared  to  make  no  impression  upon  him.  He  was 


126  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

/ 

frank  and  free  to  talk,  but  seemed  to  be  perfectly  careless  and 
indifferent  about  his  salvation.  The  tender-hearted  matron  tried 
him,  but,  with  all  her  sympathy  and  kindness,  said  she  could 
do  nothing  with  him.  Profane  and  careless,  he  seemed  to  quench 
the  Spirit  and  resist  the  truth.  He  was  now  pale  and  low  with 
chronic  diarrhoea,  and,  from  all  appearance,  was  nigh  unto  death. 
I  said  to  him,  "  Are  you  not  afraid  you  will  die,  and  be  lost  ?  " 
"  No !  "  he  said,  without  appearing  to  realize  his  danger.  I 
urged  him  by  every  possible  motive,  with  all  tenderness,  to  look 
to  Jesus ;  but,  dead  in  sin  and  lost  to  God,  nothing  appeared  to 
touch  him.  With  his  conscience  seared,  he  seemed  to  have  sinned 
away  his  day  of  grace,  and  to  have  become  "  past  feeling."  I 
said  to  him,  "  Were  you  to  feel  the  torments  of  hell  and  to  realize 
the  joys  of  heaven  for  one  minute,  think  you  would  remain 
any  longer  careless  ?  "  He  said,  "  I  don't  know  ;  but  I  suppose 
not."  "And  yet  the  existence  of  these  places  is  as  sure  as  though 
you  had  felt  the  torments  of  the  one  and  realized  the  joys  of  the 
other.  Why  not  then  ad  as  though  you  had  seen  and  felt  them 
both?"  He  belonged  to  the  169th  N.  Y.  Vol.  We  urged 
him  by  the  melting  scenes  of  Gethsemane  and  Calvary,  but  all 
apparently  with  no  effect.  He  lingered  till  February  17,  1865, 
and,  so  far  as  we  could  see,  died  without  hope.  Let  the  careless 
be  warned  and  entreated  to  seek  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found. 
This  was  a  very  rare  case. 

A  SICK  SOLDIER  BAPTIZED. 

At  our  first  interview  with  JOHN  W.  PHILIPS,  of  Ohio,  we 
found  him  tender,  and  with  some  degree  of  anxiety  inquiring 
what  to  do  to  be  saved.  After  pointing  him  to  the  Lamb  of 
God  whose  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  and  beseeching  him  by 
the  mercies  of  God  to  come  to  Jesus,  we  bid  him  good-by. 
Although  now  quite  feeble,  his  strength  was  evidently  declining. 
At  our  next  interview  we  found  his  spiritual  interest  increasing, 
and  he  seemed  to  be  indulging  a  hope.  Telling  him  of  the  good- 
ness of  God,  of  the  amazing  love  of  Christ,  and  of  his  willingnest? 
and  ability  to  save  even  to  the  uttermost,  and  endeavoring  to 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  127 

explain  the  simplicity  of  the  plan  of  salvation  by  faith,  and 
urging  him  to  let  go  self,  renounce  the  world,  forsake  sin,  and 
at  once  to  throw  himself  right  into  the  arms  of  Jesus,  and  beseech- 
ing the  Lord  to  wash  and  save  his  soul,  we  left  him  to  meditate 
on  these  things.  Possessing  a  mild,  amiable,  forgiving  spirit, 
and  apparently  resigned  to  God's  will,  not  a  murmur  fell  from 
his  lips.  At  our  next  call  we  found  him  sinking  physically,  but 
rising  spiritually,  and,  indulging  a  hope  that  he  had  felt  the 
washing  of  regeneration,  he  desired  to  be  received  into  the  church, 
and  be  baptized.  He  laid  in  a  tent  hard  by  and  facing  the  bay, 
from  which  blew  daily  a  fine  refreshing  breeze,  symbolical  of  the 
Spirit  that  washed,  we  trust,  his  soul  in  a  Saviour's  precious  blood. 
Pressing  his  desire  to  unite  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  we 
brought  the  pastor  and  ruling  elders  of  the  Annapolis  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  after  the  usual  examination  he  was  received, 
and  after  a  brief  explanation  of  the  nature  and  design  of  the 
ordinance  of  baptism,  he  was  solemnly  baptized,  sitting  on  his 
death-bed,  beside  the  blue  waters  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  May  10, 
1864.  Rejoicing  in  the  Lord,  and  overflowing  with  gratitude, 
he  thanked  us  most  heartily.  But  his  time  was  short.  Lingering 
some  ten  hours  after  his  baptism,  his  soul  left  its  clay  tenement, 
and  went,  we  hope,  to  dwell  with  the  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect  on  high. 

A  SOLDIER  WITH  HALF  OF   HIS  THROAT  SHOT  OFF. 

The  army  of  the  Potomac,  commanded  by  Gen.  Grant,  set  out 
for  Richmond,  May  3,  1864,  and,  having  crossed  the  Rapidan, 
they  soon  met  the  bloodthirsty  rebels  in  the  fierce,  destructive 
battles  of  the  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania,  and  the  wounded 
soon  began  to  pour  into  the  hospitals  here  almost  daily.  Many 
of  the  officers,  though  but  slightly  wounded  or  diseased,  seemed 
to  be  a  good  deal  fatigued,  and  after  a  few  days'  rest  were,  by  the 
exacting  surgeon  in  charge,  sent  back  to  the  front.  Others, 
severely  wounded  and  unable  for  duty,  were  retained,  and  re- 
ceived strict  attention. 

In  making  my  regular  visits,  one  day,  I  found  an  unfortunate 
soldier,  sitting  alone  in  his  tent,  with  half  of  his  under  jaw  and 


128  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

throat  shot  off.  "  A  very  narrow  escape,  sir !  you  have  made  a 
very  narrow  escape  with  your  life."  "  Yes,  a  little  deeper,  and  I 
would  have  been  gone."  Though  severely  wounded,  he  bore  it 
all  very  patiently  without  a  murmur.  With  his  swalloAV  so  badly 
injured  and  so  much  of  it  torn  off,  he  had  to  live  entirely  on 
spoon  victuals.  And  his  vocal  organs  were  so  much  impaired 
he  could  scarcely  speak.  On  approaching  him  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  he  said  he  trusted  in  the  Lord,  and  appeared  to  have  a 
well-grounded  hope.  After  pointing  him  to  the  Saviour,  and 
beseeching  him  to  cling  to  the  cross,  I  said  to  him,  "Shall  I  pray 
for  you?"  and  promptly  nodding  his  head,  he  quickly  kneeled 
down  with  such  a  zest  that  manifested  a  longing  desire  for  the 
intercession ;  and  kneeling  down  by  his  side,  we  besought  God 
to  sustain  and  comfort  him  in  his  trials,  heal  his  wounds,  forgive 
his  sins,  and  save  his  soul.  We  visited  him  often,  and  always 
found  him  patient  and  resigned,  frequently  reading  his  Testa- 
ment. He  belonged  in  Philadelphia,  had  no  family,  and  when 
we  left  the  hospital  he  wras  doing  well.  How  he  got  along  after- 
ward, we  never  heard. 

This  and  the  case  immediately  preceding  it,  were  in  the  U.S. 
General  Hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md. 

"JESUS  SAVED  ME  TWICE." 

The  shock  of  battle,  the  bloody  charge,  the  groans  of  the  dying, 
and  the  awful  sight  of  the  ghastly  dead,  together  with  the  press- 
ing danger  of  the  severe  conflict,  sometimes  so  deeply  stir  the 
soul  and  fire  the  heart  of  the  Christian  soldier,  that  when  he  falls 
severely  wounded  upon  the  gory  field,  and  is  carried  to  the  hos- 
pital, the  first  word  he  utters  is  one  glowing  with  gratitude  to 
God  for  his  great  mercy  in.  sparing  his  life.  Such  were  the 
heart-gushing  words  of  George  Frederick,  15th  N.  J.,  Co.  C, 
as  he  lay  upon  his  bed  with  a  rebel  ball  in  his  shoulder,  when 
he  said,  with  deep  emotion  and  tears,  as  I  first  approached 
him,  "  Jesus  saved  me  twice,"  Having  twice  barely  escaped 
with  his  life,  and  ascribing  all  the  glory  of  his  salvation  to  God, 
lie  hastens  to  give  utterance  to  the  deep  thoughts  of  his  heart, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  129 

and  exclaims,  in  words  of  immortal  memory,  "  Jesus  saved  me 
twice;"  whereupon  I  replied,  "And  I  hope  he  will  save  you 
again."  And  George  said,  with  a  smiling  countenance,  "  I  hope 
and  believe  he  will." 

He  was  wounded  in  one  of  the  last  great  battles  near  Petersburg, 
Ya.,  having  been  shot  in  the  left  shoulder,  the  ball  remaining  in 
him  ;  yet,  with  his  strong  faith  and  buoyant  hope,  his  severe  wound 
soon  began  to  improve. 

Upon  examining  a  little  farther  into  his  spiritual  condition, 
we  found  him  very  penitent  and  unusually  prayerful.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and,  conscious  of 
the  great  things  God  had  done  for  him,  his  heart  seemed  to  flow 
out  with  prayer  and  praise.  He  prayed  much.  His  wound  was 
so  severe,  and  the  shock  so  great  at  first,  to  use  his  own  language, 
he  said,  "  I  thought  I  would  have  died  on  the  field,  and  I  re- 
quested a  friend  to  write  home,  (  Poor  George  is  dead.'  "  And 
although  exposed  to  the  temptations  of  the  camp,  the  trials  of 
the  march,  and  the  conflicts  of  battle,  yet,  says  he,  "  I  never  forget 
my  Saviour"  "  Never  forget  him  !  Few,  very  few,  can  say  as  much. 
You  must  be  very  happy  ?  "  "  Yes,  I  feel  happy  in  the  Lord." 
"  And  I  suppose  you  find  this  happy  state  of  feeling,  or  joy  in  the 
Lord,  a  source  of  courage  and  strength  in  the  day  of  battle  ?  " 
"  Yes,  I  believe  it  is.  Besides  the  salvation  of  the  country,  the 
anticipated  honor  and  glory  of  victory  does  much  to  urge  men 
on  to  acts  of  daring  and  courage  in  the  day  of  battle."  "  As  you 
never  forget  your  Saviour,  George,  I  suppose  the  ordinary  temp- 
tations of  army  life  make  but  little  impression  upon  you."  "  No  ; 
I  try  to  watch  and  pray,  and  by  endeavoring  to  remember  the 
great  truth  contained  in  the  words  of  Hagar,  '  Thou,  God,  seest 
me,'  I  endeavor  to  endure  temptation  as  much  as  possible.  "  And 
there  is  nothing  tends  more  to  deliver  us  from  temptation  than  a 
clear  conception  of  God's  presence.  A  deep  sense  of  the  sublime 
truth,  Go(l  is  present,  should  quench  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked 
and  blunt  the  weapons  of  hell.  If  the  thief,  when  he  goes  to  steal, 
would  stop,  and  call  to  mind  the  important  truth  God  is  present, 
his  thieving  heart  would  fail  him.  If  the  profane  swearer,  when 
his  lips  begin  to  teem  with  oaths,  would  remember  that  the  God 


130  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

whose  name  he  profanes  is  present,  it  would  stay  his  swearing. 
Had  J.  Wilkes  Booth,  when  he  was  about  to  assassinate  Abraham 
Lincoln,  stopped,  and  grasped  the  awe-inspiring  truth,  God  is  pres- 
ent,\h\s  fiendish  heart  would  have  failed  him,  and  his  murderous 
hand  would  have  fallen  palsied  to  his  side,  and  he  would  have 
failed  to  commit  that  awful  deed.  Thus,  as  a  check  upon  sin,  let 
us  always  remember  God  is  present,  and  our  responsibility  unto 
him,  and  strive  to  live  so  that  we  will  be  enabled  to  say  in  the 
words  of  George  Frederick,  "  I  never  forget  my  Saviour."  The 
last  we  heard  of  him  was  in  his  own  words,  "  I  feel  happy  in  the 
Lord." 

THE   BLIND  EXHORTER. 

The  Gangrene  Camp  was  the  scene  of  much  severe  suffering. 
It  was  a  kind  of  a  depository  for  the  almost  hopeless  cases  of 
men  with  gangrened  wounds,  and  other  contagious  diseases.  Yet 
patients  taken  there  frequently  recovered,  and  were  taken  back 
again  to  their  wards.  Patients  dreaded  to  go  there.  But  gangrene 
being  considered  so  contagious,  it  was  considered  dangerous  to 
allow  cases  of  it  to  remain  with  other  wounded  patients  clear  of 
it.  In  our  "  gospel  ranging,"  we  often  met  with  very  interesting 
cases  of  religious  experience  in  this  lonely  camp.  When  we 
first  met  with  Hutchinson  Miller,  29th  Conn.,  Co.  C,  colored 
troops,  we  found  him  low  with  the  erysipelas  in  the  head.  His 
face  and  eyes  were  so  badly  swollen  with  this  fatal  disease  that 
he  could  not  see.  Wearing  a  noble  countenance,  marked  with 
intelligence,  integrity,  and  honor,  we  find  him  pleasant  and 
interesting  in  conversation.  Approaching  him  on  the  subject 
of  religion,  he  seemed  to  be  well  versed  in  the  doctrines  of  the 
cross.  Hailing  from  "the  land  of  steady  habits,"  and  being  a 
Presbyterian,  he  possessed  less  of  the  emotional  than  colored  men 
generally.  He  said  he  had  been  converted  fifteen  years  ago.  And 
as  I  began  to  draw  him  out  on  his  religious  experience,  he  gave 
me  as  his  creed,  "All  my  trust  is  in  Jesus  Christ."  "  That  is  a 
very  good,  brief,  comprehensive,  sound,  orthodox  creed.  If  you 
will  stand  straight  and  firm  on  that,  it  will  sustain,  console,  and 
buoy  yop  up  under  all  circumstances.  With  '  all  your  trust  in 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  131 

Christ/  who  is  able,  willing,  mighty  to  save,  you  have  nothing 
to  fear.  He  is  the  rock  of  our  salvation.  Besides  him  there  is 
no  Saviour.  He  is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost.  I  suppose  you 
derive  much  comfort  from  Him  ? "  "  Yes,  I  have  very  sweet 
communion  with  God."  "  Communion  and  intercourse  with  dear 
friends  is  sweet  and  precious,  but  it  is  nothing  compared  to  com- 
munion with  God.  When  John  Wesley  was  lying  on  his  death- 
bed, surrounded  with  intimate  friends,  with  tender  hearts  and 
weeping  eyes  expressing  their  warmest  sympathies  and  earnest 
efforts  to  comfort  him,  the  faithful  old  soldier  of  the  cross,  realizing 
that  his  comfort  came  from  a  higher  source,  exclaimed,  'The  best 
of  all  is,  God  is  with  us.'  Sweet  communion  with  God,  together 
with  a  firm  reliance  upon  Christ,  will  drive  away  every  cloud, 
and  enable  us  to  '  rejoice  in  the  Lord  always.'  I  hope  you  have 
no  fear  of  death  ?  "  "  No,  I  am  not  afraid  to  die."  "  With  all 
your  trust  in  Christ,  you  need  not  fear  to  die,  because,  when 
standing  firmly  on  such  a  foundation,  '  to  die  is  gain/  Christ, 
when  he  died  upon  the  cross,  deprived  death  of  its  sting  to  every 
believer;  hence  Paul  said,  'to  depart  is  far  better.' "  His  disease 
grew  worse,  and  although  he  could  not  see,  yet,  perceiving  that 
an  unconverted  soldier  was  lying  close  by  him  in  the  same  tent, 
Hutchinson  Miller,  being  no  longer  able  to  wield  "  the  sword  of 
Gideon,"  now  grasps  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  fights  with  it 
in  warning,  instructing,  and  beseeching  his  dying  comrade  to 
repent,  and  fly  to  the  Saviour.  Although  his  swollen  eyes  hid 
from  his  vision  the  light  of  the  natural  sun,  yet,  with  his  soul  lit 
up  by  the  glorious  light  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  he  exhorted 
his  tent-mates  with  tenderness  and  earnestness  to  prepare  to  meet 
their  God.  Blest  with  the  joys  of  salvation  himself,  he  felt 
deeply  anxious  that  his  comrades-in-arms  should  enjoy  it  also. 
And  to  see  him,  with  his  swollen  head  and.  closed  eyes,  lying  upon 
his  death-bed,  with  a  gushing  heart  imploring  the  wayward  to  be 
reconciled  to  God,  was  enough  to  stir  the  soul  of  the  most  unfaith- 
ful Christian.  He  said  he  belonged  to  the  Free  Masons.  Calm 
and  submissive,  he  survived  the  struggles  of  life  till  February  25, 
1865,  when  his  soul  left  its  clay  tenement,  and  went,  we  trust,  to 
the  home  of  the  blest.  His  last  words  to  me  were,  "  Christ  is 


132  CHRISTIANITY    IN     THE    WAR. 

precious,  and  all  ray  trust."     The  following  interesting  letter  is 

from  his  bereaved  wife. 

READING,  PA.,  March  1,  l»i>5. 

CHAPLAIN  A.  S.  BILLINGSLEY  :  —  I  take  my  pen  in  hand 
to  inform  you  that  I  received  your  letter  of  the  3d,  which  re- 
vealed to  me  the  sad  news  —  the  death  of  my  husband,  Hutchin- 
son  Miller.  So  great  was  the  shock  to  me  that  I  have  been 
unable  to  answer  your  letter  till  now.  At  present  I  am  laboring 
under  a  very  severe  headache.  Whilst  this  duty  is  a  very  pain- 
ful one  to  me,  your  letter  was  very  kind  and  sympathizing ; 
and  I  feel  under  many  obligations  to  you  for  the  interest  that 
you  took  in  visiting  him,  conversing  with  him,  and  also  in 
writing  to  me  so  soon.  You  will  please  here  accept  my  warmest 
thanks  for  all  you  have  done,  hoping  that  God  will  reward  you 
more  bountifully.  My  loss  is  exceedingly  a  very  great  one ;  for 
the  last  letter  he  wrote  was  dated  on  the  fifteenth  of  February  : 
he  then  spoke  of  feeling  very  comfortable,  and  up  to  that  time 
he  entertained  a  hope  that  he  would  get  a  furlough.  I  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  getting  a  letter  every  week,  and  often  twice  a 
week.  The  last  one  was  a  very  cheerful  one,  and  he  spoke  much 
of  coming  home,  and  of  our  poor  little  children  ;  and  when  the 
time  arrived  for  me  to  get  the  next,  and  there  was  none,  I  felt 
confident  that  he  would  answer  it  by  his  presence.  I  set  up 
every  night  till  after  the  late  train  came  in,  thinking  he  would 
come  ;  but,  alas !  my  waiting  was  in  vain ;  instead  of  his  presence, 
the  unwelcome  news  came  that  he  was  gone  where  no  travel  lei1 
was  ever  known  to  return.  So  you  can  imagine  my  loss  much 
better  than  I  can  express  it.  At  one  time  he  wrote  me  that  he 
had  asked  for  a  furlough,  and  the  reply  was  that  he  would  get 
one,  but  it  would  be  down  front,  which  was  very  wounding  to 
his  feelings.  I  think  that  it  is  very  hard  that,  when  a  man 
leaves  his  home  —  a  comfortable  home,  like  he  did  —  and  when 
they  are  no  longer  fit  for  service,  that  they  are  deprived  of  the 
privilege  of  seeing  their  families,  which  is  their  all  in  this  life. 
At  times  I  think  that  it  cannot  be  that  I  am  not  to  see  him  any 
more  in  this  life !  But  I  pray  earnestly  that  God  will  give  me 
grace  sufficient  to  bear  with  my  bereavement.  My  health  is  very 
poor,  so  that  I  am  not  able  to  labor  to  raise  my  family ;  but  still 
I  believe  that  God  will  provide  a  way  for  me,  if  T  live  faithful. 
I  was  led  to  inquire  the  way  to  Christ  when  a  Sabbath-school 
scholar,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  I  was  admitted  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  and  in  all  my  sorrow  through 
life,  He  has  been  my  comfort,  and  I  still  feel  to  trust  Him.  So  I 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  133 

close,  hoping  that  you  will  remember  me  and  my  family  when 
bowing  before  the  throne  of  grace ! 

From  your  bereaved  friend, 

N.  B.  His  remains  may  be  sent  for ;  but  at  present  I  have 
not  the  means.  If  he  was  here,  it  would  all  be  much  to  my 
comfort. 


SOLDIERS  DYING  CLINCHED  IN  BATTLE. 

Corp.  JOHN  CREED,  23d  111.,  Co.  B,  though  small  in  body, 
possessed  a  noble,  courageous  heart.  He  was  an  old  soldier,  and 
had  served  several  years  in  the  old  country  before  he  left  Ireland. 
His  physiognomy,  manners,  and  appearance,  and  everything 
about  him,  denoted  honesty,  frankness,  and  simplicity.  Although 
he  carried  with  him  a  medal  of  honor  that  he  had.  received  from 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  for  his  bravery,  and  had  re- 
ceived special  marks  of  respect  from  President  Lincoln,  he  was 
very  unpretending  in  his  manners.  He  was  shot  in  both  arms 
at  the  capture  of  Fort  Craig,  Va.,  just  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
Though  mild,  he  was  also  stern  and  invincible.  To  hear  him 
recount  deeds  of  valor  and  bravery  on  the  field  of  battle  would 
*  raise  the  patriotism  of  the  most  heroic.  He  said  he  saw  a  Union 
and  rebel  soldier  bayonet  one  another,  clinch,  and  die  clinched. 
Said  he  had  seen  men  die  standing  on  the  field  of  battle.  And 
just  here  let  us  stop  a  moment,  and  inquire  what  it  is  that  leads 
men  to  do  such  daring  deeds.  The  fear  of  disgrace  and  the  love 
of  honor,  together  with  the  love  of  God  and  a  patriotic  devotion, 
constitute  some  of  the  strongest  motives  that  actuate  men  in  the 
discharge  of  duty.  Aside  from  these  considerations,  the  power 
of  military  discipline  has  a  wonderful  influence  in  making  men 
steadfast  and  resolute.  A  striking  instance  of  which  is  given  by 
Dr.  Guthrie,  in  the  case  of  the  old  Roman  s'entinel,  in  the  fol- 
lowing graphic  words : 

THE   ROMAN   SENTINEL. 

There  was  nothing  in  Pompeii  that  invested  it  with  a  deeper  interest  to 
me  than  the  spot  where  a  soldier  of  old  Rome  displayed  a  most  heroic 


134  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB. 

fidelity.  That  fatal  day  on  which  Vesuvius,  at  whose  feet  the  city  stood, 
burst  out  into  an  eruption  that  shook  the  earth,  poured  torrents  of  lava 
from  its  riven  sides,  and  discharged,  amidst  the  noise  of  a  hundred  thun- 
ders, such  clouds  of  ashes  as  filled  the  air,  produced  a  darkness  deeper 
than  midnight,  and  struck  such  terror  into  all  hearts  that  men  thought  not 
only  that  the  end  of  the  world  had  come  and  all  must  die,  but  that  the 
gods  themselves  were  expiring  — on  that  night  a  sentinel  kept  watch  by 
the  gate  which  looked  to  the  burning  mountain.  Amidst  unimaginable 
confusion,  and  shrieks  of  terror  mingled  with  the  roar  of  the  volcano,  and 
cries  of  mothers  who  had  lost  their  children  in  the  darkness,  the  inhabit- 
ants fled  from  the  fatal  town,  while  falling  ashes,  loading  the  darkened 
air  and  penetrating  every  place,  rose  in  the  streets  till  they  covered  the 
house-roofs,  nor  left  a  vestige  of  the  city  but  a  vast  silent  mound,  beneath 
which  it  lay  unknown,  dead,  and  buried,  for  nearly  seventeen  hundred  years. 
Amidst  this  fearful  disorder,  the  sentinel  at  the  gate  had  been  forgotten ; 
and  as  Rome  required  her  sentinels,  happen  what  might,  to  hold  their 
posts  till  relieved  by  the  guard,  or  set  at  liberty  by  their  officers,  he  had 
to  choose  between  death  and  dishonor.  Pattern  of  fidelity,  he  stood  by 
his  post.  Slowly  but  surely  the  ashes  rise  on  his  manly  form ;  now  they 
reach  his  breast ;  and  now,  covering  his  lips,  they  choke  his  breathing. 
He,  also,  was  "faithful  unto  death."  After  seventeen  centuries,  they 
found  his  skeleton  standing  erect  in  a  marble  niche,  clad  in  its  rusty 
armor  —  the  helmet  on  his  empty  skull,  and  his  bony  fingers  still  closed 
upon  his  spear.  And  next  almost  to  the  interest  I  felt  in  placing  myself 
on  the  spot  where  Paul,  true  to  his  colors  when  all  men  deserted  him, 
pleaded  before  the  Roman  tyrant,  was  the  interest  I  felt  in  the  niche  by  the* 
city  gate  where  they  found  the  skeleton  of  one  who,  in  his  fidelity  to  the 
cause  of  Caesar,  sets  us  an  example  of  faithfulness  to  the  cause  of  Christ 
—  an  example  it  were  for  the  honor  of  their  Master  that  all  his  servants 
followed. 

And  besides  all  this,  there  is  a  thrilling,  buoyant  joy  in  antici- 
pated victory  which  nerves  the  soul  and  urges  on  in  daring 
deeds,  that  leads  men  .undauntedly  to  face  danger,  and  even  to 
bid  defiance  to  death  itself.  When  the  friends  of  the  intrepid 
Pompey  dissuaded  him  from  venturing  on  a  tempestuous  sea,  in 
order  to  be  in  Rome  on  an  important  occasion,  the  fearless  hero 
replied  in  words  of  immortal  memory:  "It  is  necessary  for  me  to 
go;  it  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  live."  To  Pompey,  the  joy  in 
the  discharge  of  duty  overcomes  the  fear  of  death.  When  Gen. 
Howard  (under  Gen.  Sherman)  was  advancing  upon  Savannah, 
as  he  approached  the  doomed  city,  he  met  in  the  way  a  small 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  135 

rebel  battery  which  kept  up  a  most  galling  fire,  to  the  great 
annoyance  of  his  troops;  whereupon  the  brave  general  com- 
manded a  halt,  and  called  out  for  twenty-five  brave  men  to  storm 
the  rebel  stronghold.  Animated  with  a  sublime  thirst  for  the 
fierce  conflict,  and  fired  with  a  noble  joy  in  anticipating  the  vic- 
tory, the  brave  twenty-five  quickly  volunteered,  and  rushed  up 
boldly  amidst  the  thick  grape  and  canister,  and,  staring  death  in 
the  face,  took  the  courageous  battery  amidst  the  loud  shouts  of 
ten  thousand  hearts  anxiously  gazing  upon  the  grandeur  of  the 
sublime  achievement.  And  although  man  burns  with  ambition 
and  longs  for  fame's  immortal  honors,  it  is  after  all  the  inspiring 
joy  attending  these  things  that  impels  the  ambitious  to  grasp  for 
them.  Hence  this  animating  joy  is  one  of  the  principal  elements 
of  moral  strength  in  all  great  and  laudable  undertakings :  it  is 
strength  to  the  orator,  it  is  strength  to  the  soldier,  and  strength 
to  the  Christian.  It  is  this  buoyant  feeling  that  gives  the 
rostrum  and  the  pulpit  such  wonderful  power,  and  makes  the 
forum  flash  "  with  thoughts  that  burn  and  words  that  glow."  It 
is  this  wonderful  element  of  strength  that  holds  the  martyr  to 
the  stake,  and  enables  him  to  shout  victory  in  the  very  agonies 
of  death.  "For  the  joy  of  the  Lord  is  your  strength."  —  Neh. 
viii.  10.  And  if  it  were  possible  to  strip  man  of  this  powerful 
element,  the  church  and  the  enterprising  world  would  fall  into  a 
sudden  collapse.  What,  we  ask,  was  it  that  led  Jesus  to  Cal- 
vary? What  enabled  him  to  endure  the  cross  and  despise  the 
shame?  It  was  the  "joy"  that  was  set  before  him.  Then,  if 
we  would  be  mighty  in  battle  and  strong  in  the  Lord,  let  us  so 
live  that  we  will  be  "rejoicing  in  the  Lord  always." — Phil.  iv. 
4.  Reader,  if  you  would  be  happy,  useful,  and  successful  in  the 
world,  cultivate  a  cheerful  disposition. 

ANANIAS  MONTGOMERY  — HE   HAD  A  BALL  IN  HIS  SIDE,  AND  GOD 
IN  HIS  HEART. 

In  canvassing  one  of  the  new  wards,  on  a  balmy  April  morn- 
ing, we  came  in  contact  with  Ananias  Montgomery,  10th 
West  Va.,  Co.  B,  and  found  him,  at  our  first  interview,  patient, 
prayerful,  and  resigned.  His  manly  form,  expressive  counte- 


136  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAH. 

nance,  frank  appearance,  led  us  to  set  him  down  for  a  noble  fellow. 
He  was  wounded  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Craig,  April  2,  1865,  in 
the  last  great  battle  of  the  war.  I  remarked  to  him  that  it  seemed 
hard  to  fight  three  or  four  years,  and  then  receive  a  mortal  wound 
just  at  the  close  of  the  struggle.  "  It  does  seem  so,"  he  said ; 
"yet  I  hope  and  trust  it  is  all  right.  God's  will  be  done." 
"  Thank  God  for  such  submission !  To  be  resigned  to  God's  will 
is  a  very  high  attainment.  Although  you  have  a  minie-ball  in 
your  side,  yet,  having  God  in  your  heart,  you  \ave,  I  hope, 
nothing  to  fear.  Do  you  think  you  would  be  afraid  to  die  ? " 
"No;  I  feel  I  can  die  happy."  Realizing  his  need  of  divine 
assistance,  he  said,  "  Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  hold  out  faithful 
till  death."  "Have  you  any  word  to  send  to  your  wife?" 
"  Nothing ;  only  I  feel  happy,  and  prepared  to  die."  What  a 
consoling  message  from  a  dear  dying  husband  to  a  bereaved, 
weeping  wife!  It  is  more  precious  than  all  the  victories  and 
honors  ever  won  upon  the  field  of  battle.  Victory  over  the 
enemy  is  glorious,  but  victory  over  death  is  rapturous ;  and  to 
the  bereaved,  heart-broken  wife  nothing  could  afford  so  much 
consolation.  To  lose  a  kind  husband  at  home,  under  the  most 
favorable  circumstances,  is  very  trying  to  the  bereaved  widow ; 
but  when  he  dies  upon  the  ensanguined  field,  or  in  the  hospital, 
far  away  from  friends,  it  is  far  more  severe.  Having  fought  a 
good  fight,  even  with  a  ball  in  his  side,  and  feeling  that  God  was 
in  his  heart,  with  the  grave  yawning  before  him,  sustained  by 
God's  grace,  he  was  enabled  to  say,  "  I  feel  happy,  and  prepared 
to  die."  He  lingered  a  few  days,  and  passed  away,  we  trust, 
where  the  clanging  of  arms  and  the  whistling  of  balls  are  heard 


THE  BACKSLIDER. 

I  have  heard  men  say,  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  of  Colorado, 
"We  can't  live  out  religion  here,  where  sin  so  much  abounds, 
and  where  temptations  are  so  strong."  Sometimes  the  same 
objection  and  excuse  has  been  urged  in  the  army.  And  although 
restraints  are  weaker,  and  temptations  stronger,  in  the  army  than 
at  home,  yel,  as  God  is  tne  same  everywhere,  and  as  his  grace  is 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  137 

sufficient  for  us  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  if  we  will  only 
trust  in  Him,  he  will  deliver  in  every  temptation,  and  sustain  us 
in  every  trial,  as  well  in  the  army  as  at  home.  If  God  preserved 
and  delivered  Daniel  in  the  lions'  den,  surely  he  can  sustain  the 
Christian  soldier  in  the  army.  At  our  first  interview  with 
Harry  Stanton,  118th  N.Y.,  Co.  C,  we  found  him  of  easy 
access,  frank  and  free  to  converse,  and  confess  his  sins.  Said  he, 
"  I  was  soundly  converted  over  twelve  years  ago.  I  enjoyed 
religion  very  well  for  six  months  ;  but  then  I  lost  it."  m  "  What 
a  long  list  of  sins !  Yet  we  are  glad  to  see  you  make  such  a 
frank  and  full  confession  of  them.  It  is  good  to  confess  your 
faults  to  another.  God  says,  'If  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is  faith- 
ful to  forgive,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness.'  What 
led  you  to  backslide?"  " My  own  unfaithfulness.  My  neglect- 
ing my  Bible,  my  closet,  the  church,  and  the  prayer-meeting.  I 
became  lukewarm ;  my  love  waxed  cold ;  I  forsook  God,  and  he 
has  forsaken  me."  "  Where  did  your  backsliding  begin?"  "It 
began  in  my  heart,  I  suppose,  and,  taking  root  there,  it  soon 
spread  all  through  my  thoughts,  prayers,  devotions,  words,  and 
deeds,  until  I  soon  found  that  I  possessed  so  little  strength  that 
I  was  just  '  ready  to  die.' "  "Now  do  you  think  you  were  really 
soundly  converted  to  God?"  "Yes,  I  have  no  doubt  of  it." 
"Although  it  is  the  Christian's  privilege  to  know  that  he  is  a 
Christian,  there  is,  after  all,  a  possibility  of  being  deceived  in 
this  matter.  We  may  think  and  belief  we  are  Christians,  when 
we  are  not.  Hence,  close  self-examination  is  all  -  important. 
How  are  you  getting  along  now  ?  Do  you  feel  happy  since  you 
lost  your  religion  ?  "  "  Oh,  no ;  I  am  miserable.  God  frowns 
upon  me  —  a  miserable  backslider !  Yes,  that's  what  I  am ! " 
"  Oh !  how  strange  and  awful,  that  any  should  ever  wander  away 
from  such  a  compassionate  Saviour,  who  has  done  such  great 
things  for  us !  Take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King  of  kings, 
and  then  turn  traitor  to  God  !  Forsake  Him  who  suffered,  bled, 
and  died  for  you  f  OL,  how  treacherous !  What  treacherous 
disloyalty  !  With  your  soul  once  washed  in  Christ's  blood,  and 
then  return  like  a  sow  that  is  washed  to  her  wallowing  in  the 
mire !  Come  down  from  the  lofty  heights  of  holiness,  of  union 


138  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  communion  with  God,  and  return  again  to  the  beggarly 
elements  and  to  bondage  —  quit  praying,  and  take  to  swearing ; 
forsake  God  to  serve  Satan  !  Oh,  how  awful !  And  is  it  so  ? 
Is  this  your  condition  $  "  "  Yes,  that 's  it,  in  strong  terms.'' 
"And  don't  you  feel  sorry  for  your  aggravated  sins?"  "  Yes, 
[weeping,]  I  do  feel  sorry;  and  I  am  going  to  try  to  do  better." 
"You  are  not  going  to  live  without  religion,  I  hope?"  "No;  I 
expect  to  seek  it  again  when  I  get  home."  "  Why  not  seek  it  here 
in  the  hospital  now?"  "Oh,  this  is  a  poor  place  for  it."  "A 
poor  place  for  it  here,  among  the  sick  and  dying,  where  death  is 
so  frequent,  where  time  is  so  short,  and  eternity  so  near  ?  I  should 
think  it  a  very  good  place  for  it ;  and  it  is  the  very  place  that 
you  need.  Do  you  see  that  shrouded  corpse  ;  do  you  see  that  dear 
comrade  bleeding  to  death ;  do  you  hear  the  dying  groans  of 
that  expiring  soldier;  and  what  meaneth  all  this?  It  is  a  warn- 
ing to  you ;  it  is  the  voice  of  God  warning  and  admonishing  you, 
'Prepare  to  meet  thy  God!'  Oh,  then,  say  not  'this  is  a  poor 
place  to  seek  religion ! '  If  the  awful,  terrible  charge  and  the 
shock  of  battle  don't  alarm  you;  if  the  thrilling,  solemn  scenes 
of  the  hospital  don't  arrest  you,  and  lead  you  to  repentance,  how 
can  you  expect  the  dull  routine  of  life  at  home  to  do  it  ?  You 
expect,  you  say,  to  seek  religion  when  you  get  home?  What  if 
you  should  never  reach  home ;  how  then  ?  Besides,  God  says, 
'  The  expectation  of  the  wicked  shall  perish.'  (Prov.  x.  28.) 
Many,  doubtless,  expect  to  be  saved,  who  are  finally  lost.  Your 
only  safety,  then,  is  in  immediate  repentance.  Now  is  God's  time, 
and  here  is  the  right  place.  Oh,  then,  we  beseech  you,  repent, 
repent  now,  —  come  back,  come  home  to  God,  and  he  will  heal 
your  backsliding,  and  restore  unto  you  the  joys  of  his  salvation! 
May  God  bless  you." 

GEORGE  H.  VANLOAN. 

Upon  canvassing  the  heart  of  George  H.  Vanloan,  3d  N.  Y. 
Cavalry,  we  found  him  penitent,  prayerful,  trusting  in  the  Lord. 
"  Do  you  love  the  Saviour ! "  "  Yes,"  he  said,  with  great  emphasis, 
and  deep  emotion  and  tears,  "  I  do  love  him."  "  Love  is  the 
principal  thing.  Without  love  we  are  f  as  sounding  brass,  or  a 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB.  139 

tinkling  cymbal.'  <  And  though  I  bestow  all  my  goods  to  feed 
the  puoi,  and  though  I  give  my  body  to  be  burned,  and  have  not 
charity,  or  love,  I  am  nothing.  Love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law  ; 
it  is  the  strongest  of  all  propensities.  It  holds  and  binds  the  Chris- 
tian to  the  throne  of  grace,  and  the  martyr  to  the  stake.  Don't  you 
think  love  to  Christ  helps  in  getting  along  in  afflictions  ?  "  "  Yes, 
I  believe  so ;  for  I'd  have  died  long  ago,  had  I  not  trusted  in 
the  Lord."  "  The  calm,  composed  state  of  mind  resulting  from 
strong  faith  in  Christ,  when  passing  through  the  deep  waters  of 
affliction,  is,  no  doubt,  well  calculated  to  sustain  and  comfort  the 
sick,  so  that  in  many  cases  life  has  been  spared  and  health 
restored  where  death  would  have  ensued  without  it.  I  have 
heard  soldiers,  who  had  been  brought  nigh  to  death,  express 
themselves  to  this  eifect  frequently.  Faith  saves  the  soul,  and 
is  the  means  of  saving  the  life.  It  is  written  of  the  blind 
beggar,  'Thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole.' "  Afflicted  reader,  if 
you  would  bear  affliction  patiently,  and  get  well  quickly,  trust 
in  Christ,  the  great  physician,  who,  in  justice,  love,  and  mercy, 
afflicts  his  own  children,  when  they  need  it,  for  their  profit.  A 
deep  consciousness  of  the  fact  that  sanctified  affliction's  work  for 
our  good,  and  the  consequent  cheerful  spirit  resulting  therefrom, 
is  doubtless  one  of  the  reasons  why  they  tend  to  restore  health. 

"IT   WOULD   BE    HARD   TO   LIVE    IN   THE    ARMY   WITHOUT 
RELIGION." 

While  it  has  often  been  said  by  the  thoughtless  and  careless, 
"  We  can't  live  out  religion  in  the  army ;"  and  although  it  is 
often  said  by  a  certain  class  of  professors,  "  the  army  is  a  hard 
place  to  be  a  Christian,  and  live  it  out,"  yet  at  our  first  interview 
with  James  H.  Finney,  1st  N.  Y.  Engineers,  we  found  him 
entertaining  a  very  different  view,  and  being  fully  conscious  of 
the  enjoyments  and  consolations  of  the  Christian  religion,  he 
says,  "  It  would  be  hard  to  live  in  the  army  without  it."  Opposed, 
as  we  are,  by  the  combined  powers  of  the  world,  the  flesh,  and 
the  devil,  life  at  best  is  a  warfare  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave. 
And  although  the  temptations  are  greater  and  the  restraints  weaker 
some  places  than  others,  yet,  since  God's  grace  is  sufficient  at  all 


140  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

times  and  under  all  circumstances  to  guide,  guard,  and  sustain 
the  believer,  he  can,  if  he  will,  at  all  times  walk  worthy  of  his 
vocation,  and  so  live  and  act  that  his  life  will  be  an  embodiment 
of  the  great  doctrines  of  the  cross  of  Christ.  And  it  is  im- 
pugning the  wisdom,  mercy,  power,  and  grace  of  God  to  say 
that  he  cannot.  Noah,  though  thrown  amidst  all  the  whirlpools 
of  temptation  of  an  antediluvian  world,  yet,  actuated  by  a 
living  faith,  he  sustained  his  character,  and  moved  with  fear, 
when  God's  wrath  and  fury  were  about  to  be  poured  out  upon  a 
doomed  world,  "  he  prepared  an  ark  to  the  saving  of  his  house." 
If  God  gives  the  martyr  grace  and  strength  to  burn  at  the  stake, 
most  assuredly  he  will  give  grace  sufficient  to  stand  the  trials 
and  temptations  of  the  march,  the  camp,  and  the  field  of  battle. 
And  surrounded  with  increased  exposure  in  the  army,  as  you 
say,  it  would  be  hard  to  live  without  the  comforts  and  consola- 
tions of  religion.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  a  man  once 
regenerated,  with  his  sins  pardoned,  and  with  the  image  of  God 
restamped  upon  his  soul,  and  blessed  with  the  glorious  hope 
of  a  blessed  immortality  beyond  the  grave,  could  ever  think  of 
living  without  religion  anywhere,  much  less  among  the  asperities 
and  hardships  and  trials  of  the  army.  To  sustain  under  trials, 
to  comfort  in  distress,  and  to  bind  up  the  broken  in  heart,  is  one 
of  the  great  objects  of  the  religion  of  the  cross.  And  to  hold 
that  we  cannot  have  it,  and  enjoy  it  when  we  most  need  it,  is 
preposterous  in  the  extreme.  The  only  difficulty  in  living  in 
the  full  enjoyment  of  the  sweet  consolations  of  the  gospel  is 
in  the  faithful  use  of  the  means.  If  we  will  only  be  faithful, 
God  will  bless  and  comfort  as  well  in  the  army  as  in  the  family 
circle  at  home.  "  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give 
thee  a  crown  of  life." 

THE  FIXED  HEART. 

It  was  just  as  the  last  lingering  rays  of  the  setting  sun  play- 
ing on  the  lofty  dome  of  "old  Chesapeake,"  as  we  were  making 
our  regular  round  through  the  hospital,  that  we  came  in  contact 
with  Henry  Barteher,  58th  Pa.  Vol.,  Co.  I.  And,  finding 
"iiim  of  easy  access,  we  had  no  difficulty  in  drawing  him  out  on 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  141 

the  subject  of  religion.  Conscious  of  the  great  things  God  had 
done  for  him,  he  was  not  ashamed  to  speak  of  them.  Penitent 
and  humble,  and  realizing  his  constant  need  of  God's  strengthen- 
ing grace,  he  says,  "  I  pray  often,  and  believe  God  has  forgiven 
my  sins."  Warmly  attached  to  the  Saviour,  and  feeling  him 
dear  and  precious,  he  said,  "  Christ  is  on  my  mind  all  the  time." 
"Always  thinking  about  Jesus  ?  "  "  Yes."  "  You  must  be  very 
happy  ?  "  "  Yes,  I  do  feel  happy,  thank  God ! "  "  Your  experi- 
ence seems  to  be  somewhat  similar  to  David's,  who,  though  sur- 
rounded with  danger,  and  hotly  pursued  by  enemies,  even  with 
his  soul  among  lions,  exclaims,  with  a  mind  calm  and  composed, 
'My  heart  is  fixed,  O  God;  my  heart  is  fixed:  I  will  sing  and 
give  praise.'  Here  we  have  the  way  and  the  source  of  happiness. 
What  is  it  ?  A  fixed  heart  —  a  heart  stayed  and  fixed  upon  God. 
Let  the  world  allure;  let  the  flesh  entice;  let  Satan  shoot  his 
fiery  darts  dipped  in  sin's  poisonous  bowl ;  let  the  waves  of  trouble 
rise,  how  high  soever ;  let  the  fires  of  persecution  burn  and  blaze 
as  hot  as  they  did  at  the  stake  of  John  Rogers  —  yet,  with  the 
heart  stayed  and  fixed  upon  God,  the  Christian  can  say  'All  is 
well,'  and  sing  and  give  praise.  The  heart  is  a  very  hard 
thing  to  keep ;  but  when  you  get  it  fixed  upon  God,  happiness  is 
sure  to  follow.  With  a  heart  stayed  and  fixed  upon  God,  and 
with  Christ  on  the  mind  all  the  time,  the  martyr,  with  composure, 
faces  the  scaffold  and  the  stake ;  and  with  undaunted  courage 
dies  in  triumph  amidst  devouring  flames.  With  his  heart  stayed 
and  fixed  upon  God,  John  Nicholson,  with  his  legs  burned  to 
stumps,  with  two  halberds  thrust  into  his  sides,  with  which  his 
cruel  persecutors  lifted  him  up  as  far  as  the  chain  would  permit, 
while  his  fingers'  ends  were  flaming  with  fire,  exclaimed,  '  None 
but  Christ!  None  but  Christ!'  and,  being  let  down,  fell  in  the 
fire,  and  soon  expired  in  the  triumphs  of  faith.  With  his  heart 
stayed  and  fixed  upon  God,  Paul,  standing  upon  the  verge  of  the 
eternal  world,  exclaimed,  'I  am  now  ready'  to  be  offered;  ready 
to  sacrifice  his  life  for  the  cause  of  Christ." 

Henry  Bartsher  lived  till  October  19,  1864,  when  the  silver 
cord  was  loosened,  and  the  golden  bowl  was  broken,  and  his 
emancipated  soul  went  to  the  realms  of  everlasting  peace! 


142  CHEISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"I  AM  TOO  WICKED  FOR  THAT  !  " 

It  was  just  after  sermon,  in  one  of  the  wards,  when  I  stepped 
up  to  John  Palmer,  62d  Ohio  Vol.,  Co.  F,  and  on  my  beseech- 
ing him  to  repent,  and  look  to  God  for  strength  and  salvation,  he 
said,  "  I  am  too  wicked  for  that ! "  "  Too  wicked?  Too  wicked 
to  seek  God  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  feel  so."  "  Although  you  confess  your 
wickedness,  yet  I  suppose  you  are  much  wickeder  than  you 
think  you  are.  Could  you  but  see  the  height,  length,  breadth, 
and  depth  of  the  depravity  and  wickedness  of  your  deceitful 
heart,  I  suppose  you  would  be  driven  to  despair.  God,  in  mercy, 
for  a  while  conceals  the  truth,  and  opens  our  eyes  gradually,  and 
gives  us  light  as  we  can  stand  it.  ( Too  wicked  to  come  to  Jesus?' 
Oh,  what  infatuation  !  How  deceitful,  bewitching,  and  blinding 
is  sin  !  It  makes  the  sinner  feel  rich  and  as  though  he  has  need 
of  nothing,  when,  at  the  same  time,  he  is  wretched,  miserable, 
poor,  blind,  naked.  (Rev.  iii.  17.)  What  kind  of  a  life  have 
you  lived ? "  "I  have  lived  a  careless  and  wicked  life."  " Did 
you  ever  feel  much  interested  in  religion  ? "  "  No ;  I  always 
lived  careless."  "Do  you  swear?  "  "Yes;  I  swear  a  great  deal." 
"  Do  you  ever  pray  ?  "  "  No ;  I  am  too  wicked  to  pray."  "  Be 
not  deceived ;  God  is  not  mocked.  When  the  Lord  saw  that  the 
heart  of  Simon  Magus  was  not  right,  he  commanded  him  to 
repent  of  his  wickedness,  and  pray  for  forgiveness.  Your  case 
is  similar ;  and  as  God  commanded  Simon  to  repent  of  his  wick- 
edness, and  pray  for  forgiveness,  so  he  commands  you  to  repent 
and  pray  also.  God  now  commandeth  all  men,  everywhere,  to 
repent.  And  when  God  bids  you  repent  and  pray,  it  Won't  do  for 
you  to  say,  'I can't.'  Severely  wounded,  racked  with  pain,  wicked 
and  careless,  profane  and  prayerless,  without  strength  sufficient 
to  pray,  or  keep  from  swearing,  as  you  say,  your  case  presents 
rather  a  dark  picture.  Yet  it  was  j  ust  such  sinners  as  you,  Jesus 
came  to  seek  and  save.  Oh,  then,  don't  be  discouraged.  God 
says,  l  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  unrighteous  man 
his  thoughts :  and  let  him  return  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  have 
rnercy  upon  him  •  and  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abundantly  pardon.' 
Now  fix  it  m  your  mind,  you  must  repent,  or  perish.  Turn  or 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

burn !  turn  or  die !  is  one  of  God's  unalterably  fixed  laws.  And, 
jo  doubt,  you  expect  to  be  saved  ?  "  "  Yes,  I  hope  to."  "  How?" 
"  Why,  I  expect  to  reform,  and  do  better."  "  Yes ;  but  you  say 
you  are  without  strength,  and  too  wicked  to  ask  God  for  it  —  that 
'you  can't  pray.'  Yes,  there  you  are;  hanging  upon  the  mercy 
of  God,  standing  upon  the  very  verge  of  the  eternal  world,  ex- 
posed to  all  the  penalties  of  a  broken  and  violated  law,  and  liable 
to  sink  to  hell  any  moment.  There  you  hang,  with  heaven  and 
hell  before  you.  Satan  seeks  to  destroy  you ;  Jesus  to  save  you  ! 
Oh,  then,  choose  ye  this  day  whom  ye  .will  serve !  Say  no  longer 
you  can't  pray;  you  can,  if  you  will.  The  publican  prayed, 
and  God  heard  his  prayer,  and  forgave  his  sins.  The  thief  on 
the  cross,  no  doubt,  a  mnch  worse  man  than  yon,  prayed,  and  the 
Lord  heard  his  prayer,  and  saved  his  soul.  Oh,  then,  be  encour- 
aged ;  your  wickedness,  your  sins  and  oaths,  are  no  hindrance 
in  coming  to  Jesus,  if  you  will  only  repent.  God's  mercy  is 
infinite,  the  atonement  of  Jesus  infinite,  and  God  can  save  a  big 
sinner  as  easy  as  a  little  one.  The  blood  of  Christ  cleanseth  from 
all  sin.  Think  of  what  momentous  interests  are  involved  in 
your  case.  Your  wound  may  get  well ;  and  you  may  go  back 
and  fight  a  few  more  battles,  and  help  win  a  few  more  victories. 
You  may  die  to  save  your  country ;  but,  unless  you  come  to 
Jesus,  you  will  die,  and  be  lost.  Only  think  of  the  goodness  of 
God  in  sparing  you,  and  of  the  love  of  Christ  in  dying  to  save 
you  1  Go  to  the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  and  view  Jesus  agonizing 
in  prayer  for  our  salvation;  view 'him  dying  upon  the  cross; 
view  him  going  from  the  cross  to  the  tomb,  and  from  the  tomb 
to  the  throne  —  and  all  that  we  poor  unworthy  sinners  might  be 
saved  !  Oh,  then,  let  his  Spirit  woo  you ;  let  his  love  constrain 
you  to  give  your  heart  unto  him!  Look  away  from  self;  look 
away  from  your  sins,  and  look  directly,  and  only,  to  Jesus.  He 
will  wash  your  guilty  soul  in  his  own  cleansing  blood,  and  you 
will  find  your  wickedness  giving  way  to  holiness.  '  Rise,  rise, 
he  callcth  thee; '  here  he  is,  right  here  !  entreating  and  beseeching 
you,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  come  and  be  saved !  Stretch  forth 
thy  hand,  and  grasp  Jesus  like  a  drowning  man  a  straw,  and  he 
will  save  you  !  Just  make  the  effort ;  strike  for  the  cross ;  make 


144  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

a  plunge  for  Jesus,  like  sinking  Peter,  and  cry,  'Lord,  save,  or 
I  perish  ! '  and  the  crown  is  yours." 


« IT  IS  TOO  LATE  !  " 

Sad,  solemn,  impressive  words  to  fall  from  the  lips  of  a  dying 
soldier,  as  he  lay  struggling  in  the  agonies  of  death.  As  we 
entered  upon  the  canvass  of  the  heart  of  Edwin  Vanwert, 
3d  Mich.  Regiment,  Co.  E,  we  found  him,  apparently,  much 
concerned  for  his  salvation.  It  seemed  that  the  light  of  divine 
truth  had  dawned  upon  his  darkened  soul,  and  that  conviction 
had  been  sealed  upon  his  mind,  and  feeling,  to  some  extent  at 
least,  the  depravity  of  his  heart,  he  says,  "  I  have  been  very 
wicked.  I  am  a  great  sinner."  "  It  was  just  such  that  Jesus  carne 
to  seek  and  to  save,"  I  replied.  "  Therefore  be  encouraged.  Look 
and  live;  believe  and  be  saved.  It  is  an  encouraging  fact  to 
find  that  you  have  found  it  out  that  you  are  such  'a  great 
sinner.'  Yet  you  must  never  for  a  moment,  however,  entertain 
the  idea  that  the  greatness  of  your  sins  will  be  any  hindrance  to 
your  coming  to  the  Saviour.  Jesus  is  '  mighty  to  save/  His 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  and  he  can  as  easily  save  one  sinner 
as  another,  if  he  will  only  repent."  He  seemed  to  be  penitent. 
And  as  we  urged  him  to  come  to  Jesus,  as  though  he  felt  his 
need  of  a  Saviour,  he  began  to  pray,  and  cried,  "  God  have  mercy 
on  me."  "  That,  my  dear  friend,  is  a  very  good,  appropriate 
prayer.  It  just  suits  your  case.  It  is  very  similar  to  the  prayer 
of  the  publican,  who,  when  he  cried  out,  ( God  be  merciful  to 
me  a  sinner/  he  went  down  justified.  Oh,  then,  look  up,  and, 
from  the  answer  of  this  sinner's  remarkable  prayer,  press  your 
suit  for  salvation."  And  although  his  case  did  look  more  en- 
couraging at  times,  as  we  conversed,  plead,  and  prayed  with  him, 
yet,  with  all  we  could  do,  dark  clouds  rose  before  him,  his  hopes 
began  to  fail,  and  the  withering  hand  of  despair  grasping  his 
soul,  he  says,  "  It  is  too  late ;  I  have  given  up."  "  Oh,  no,  my 
friend,  it  is  not  too  late,  '  it  is  not  too  late.'  '  While  there  :s 
life,  there  is  hope.'  Don't  '  give  up.'  Man's  extremity  is  God's 
opportunity.  The  promises  of  God  run  parallel  with  a  man's 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  145 

life.  A  defeat  is  sometimes  turned  into  a  victory.  No,  it  is  not 
too  late  There  is  still  balm  in  Gilead.  The  river  of  life  still 
flows  at  your  feet.  Step  in,  wash,  and  be  clean.  The  Spirit 
still  strives.  Jesus  still  cries,  how  often  would  I  have  gathered 
you,  even  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings,  and 
must  it,  shall  it,  be  said  of  you,  ye  would  not  f 

'  While  the  lamp  holds  out  to  burn, 
The  vilest  sinner  may  return.' 

God  still  waits  to  be  gracious.  Oh,  then,  escape  for  thy  life  — 
fly  to  the  cross.  Embrace  Christ  by  faith.  Come  to  Jesus  just 
as  you  are,  and  he  will  save  you.  And  to  encourage  you  still 
further,  let  me  urge  you,  by  faith,  to  go  to  Calvary  and  gaze  upon 
that  wonderful  scene.  Do  you  see  that  dying  thief  hanging 
beside  that  dying  Saviour  ?  and  hanging  there  upon  the  very 
verge  of  the  eternal  world,  with  a  soul  all  stained  with  blood, 
guilt,  theft,  robbery,  and  murder,  it  would  not  have  been  sur- 
prising to  hear  him  exclaim,  '  It  is  too  late/  yet  with  pierced 
hands  and  feet,  with  his  life-blood  flowing  from  his  wounded 
heart,  moved  with  the  wonderful  love,  compassion,  and  meek- 
ness of  Jesus  exhibited  on  the  cross,  instead  of  crying  ( it  is  too 
late,'  he  earnestly  cries,  '  Jesus,  Lord,  remember  me  when  thou 
comest  in  thy  kingdom ; '  and  in  answer  to  his  prayer,  in  quick 
succession,  with  his  guilty  soul  washed  in  the  Saviour's  blood, 
plucked  as  a  brand  from  the  burning,  the  dying  Saviour  re- 
sponds, '  To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise/  and  the 
praying  thief  and  vile  malefactor  went  from  the  cross  to  the 
throne  of  God  in  heaven.  Saved  at  the  eleventh  hour,  in  order 
to  encourage  just  such  cases  as  yours.  Oh,  then,  say  not,  'it  is 
too  late/  but  let  the  lateness  of  the  hour  and  the  near  approach 
of  death  arouse  and  bestir  you  to  arise  and  come  to  Jesus  at  once. 
Then  let  the  love  of  Christ  constrain  you,  let  the  terrors  of  the 
Lord  persuade  you,  let  the  crowns  of  glory,  the  palm  of  victory, 
and  the  joys  of  heaven  entice  you.  Oh,  then,  delay  no  longer. 
And  while  Jesus  is  here  offering  and  beseeching  you  to  receive 
the  crown  of  life,  reach  forth  thy  wounded  hand  and  accept  it. 
Remember,  you  must  make  an  effort — you  must  seek  God  wit  I) 
10 


146  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

all  your  heart.  Kesolve,  like  the  prodigal  son,  'I  will  arise.' 
And  yet  here  you  lay,  like  the  man  with  the  withered  hand  to 
whom  Jesus  said,  Stretch  forth  thy  hand ;  and  no  sooner  did  the 
command  drop  from  the  lips  of  the  omnipotent  Saviour,  than  the 
man  begins  to  stir,  makes  an  effort,  raises  and  stretches  forth  his 
withered  hand,  and  immediately  it  was  restored  whole  as  the 
other.  Jesus  healed  him,  but  not  without  an  effort  on  his  part. 
So,  if  you  will  only  make  an  effort,  and  resolve  I  will  arise,  and  go 
to  my  Father,  while  Jesus  is  standing  with  open  arms  to  receive 
you,  he  will  forgive  your  sins  and  save  your  soul.  Oh,  then, 
look  and  live,  believe  and  be  saved,  and,  as  you  die  for  your 
country,  let  the  glorious,  cheering  news  go  home  to  your  bereaved 
friends,  and  go  home  to  heaven,  that  you  died  in  the  Lord." 

The  curtain  falls,  and  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  April,  1865, 
the  same  day  Macon,  Ga.,  was  captured  by  Gen.  Wilson's  cav- 
alry, and  five  days  before  the  final  surrender  of  the  rebel  army, 
right  in  the  midst  of  the  fall  of  the  confederacy,  while  the  nation 
was  hotly  pursuing  the  murderers  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  soul 
of  Edwin  Vanwert,  who,  on  his  death-bed  said,  "  It  is  too  late/' 
went  to  its  long  home.  Sinner,  beware. 


"IT   IS   BETTER   TO   DIE." 

Among  many  other  interesting  cases  we  found  in  the  lonely 
Gangrene  Camp  was  that  of  Robert  Armstrong,  109th  U.  S., 
Co.  I.  At  our  first  interview,  we  found  him  prayerful,  tender, 
penitent,  and  resigned.  Said  he,  "  I  prayed  at  home ;  but  I  have 
got  wild  since  I  came  into  the  army.  Yet  I  hope  God  has  for- 
given my  sins."  "  Do  you  think  you  love  the  Saviour,  Robert?" 
"Yes,  I  love  him;  and  he  is  precious  to  me."  I  visited  him 
very  often,  and  frequently  read  and  prayed  with  him.  Though 
he  suffered  long  and  severe,  he  always  seemed  to  be  perfectly 
resigned.  "  Think  you  would  be  afraid  to  die,  Robert?  "  "  No ; 
I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  believe  I  could  die  happy."  Deeply 
concerned  for  his  wife,  he  handed  me  a  few  dollars,  saying,  "If 
I  die,  send  that  to  her."  At  another  interview,  as  he  appeared 
to  draw  nearer  to  God  with  meek  submission,  he  calmly  said, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  147 

"  I  am  willing  to  go.  All  is  well !  and  I  think  it  better  to  die." 
"Blessed  be  God  for  his  sustaining,  comforting  grace!  When 
*  we  are  willing/  and  when  ( all  is  well/  it  is  better  to  die  !  Then, 
as  Paul  says,  '  to  die  is  gain/  and  '  to  depart  is  far  better.'  Death 
is  only  a  change,  only  a  '  departure/  or  separation  of  the  soul  from 
the  body.  We  live  after  death ;  death  is  an  advanced  step  in  our 
state  of  existence ;  hence,  if  prepared,  to  die  is  gain  !  In  death 
we  lose  'a  vile  body/  which,  though  very  useful  in  this  life,  is  a 
clog  to  the  soul.  The  body  is  not  only  the  occasion  of  disease, 
but  it  is  also  the  source  of  a  great  many  very  expensive  cares, 
fears,  temptations,  pains,  and  sorrows.  At  death,  this  mortal 
body  is  dismissed,  and  the  disembodied  spirit,  washed  in  Christ's 
blood,  divested  of  these  heavy  weights,  is  borne  by  angels  to  the 
mansions  of  the  blessed.  And  '  it  is  better  to  die/  because  by 
death  the  redeemed  gain  a  great  increase  of  knowledge.  How 
great  soever  may  be  our  mental  attainments  here,  we  remain 
ignorant  of  a  great  many  things.  God's  providence  is  myste- 
rious, and  his  'judgments  are  a  great  deep.'  'Now  we  know  in 
part,  but  then  we  shall  know  even  as  we  are  known.'  ( Now  we 
see  through  a  glass  darkly,  but  then  face  to  face.'  Oh,  how  great 
the  change !  how  rich  the  gain !  And,  in  order  to  realize  it  more 
fully,  let  us  contrast  the  Christian  soldier's  condition  on  earth 
with  his  condition  in  heaven.  Here  all  is  war  and  strife ; 
there  all  is  joy  and  peace ;  here  we  have  conflict,  there  victory ; 
here  we  are  in  exile,  there  at  home ;  here  we  suffer,  there  we 
reign ;  this  is  the  race,  that  the  goal ;  here  we  are  strangers  and 
pilgrims,  there  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints.  Contrast  Paul  on 
earth  with  Paul  in  heaven  :  here  he  wore  a  chain,  there  he  wears 
a  crown  ;  here  he  dwelt  in  prisons,  there  in  mansions  of  light  and 
glory ;  here  he  hung  upon  the  martyr's  stake,  there  he  sits  upon 
the  throne  of  God.  Oh,  then,  let  us  strive  so  to  live,  that,  when 
we  come  to  depart,  we  may  say,  'All  is  well ; '  so  that  it  will  { be 
better  to  die.'"  Robert  Armstrong  lived  till  June  2,  1865, 
when  his  soul  went,  we  trust,  to  realize  the  gain  and  bliss  of 
dying.  It  was  refreshing  to  talk  with  him.  "Be  ye  also 
ready!" 


\ 

148  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

MIDNIGHT   CALLS. 

Danger,  when  realized,  will  always  lead  a  man  to  look  for  refuge 
and  some  way  of  escape;  hence  "a  drowning  man  will  catch 
at  a  straw  :  "  yet  the  careless  and  thoughtless  sinner,  blinded  by 
sin  and  deceived  by  Satan,  lying  strongly  intrenched  in  carnal 
security,  feeling  that  all  is  well,  cries  peace  and  safety  when 
sudden  destruction  is  near.  But  when  death  threatens,  and  the 
grave  yawns,  and  conscience  begins  to  probe,  and  the  clay  tene- 
ment begins  to  give  way,  it  is  natural  to  look  out  for  some  way 
of  escape.  And  thus  alarmed,  the  trembling  sinner,  instead  of 
flying  directly  to  Christ,  will  often  send  for  a  spiritual  adviser 
to  point  him  to  the  Saviour.  Even  the  old  soldier  of  the  cross, 
sometimes,  getting  under  a  cloud,  lying  upon  his  wearisome, 
lonely  bed,  would  send  for  the  chaplain  at  all  hours  of  the  night. 
And  sometimes  the  patient  would  put  it  off  till  it  was  too  late, 
and  die ;  calling  for  the  chaplain,  instead  of  calling  upon  God 
for  salvation.  Although  God  repeatedly  says  "to-day"  the  poor, 
blinded  sinner,  like  Pharaoh,  says  "  to-morrow."  And  it  is 
through  this  fatal  delay,  the  devil  cheats  many  a  man  out  of  the 
salvation  of  his  soul.  I  recollect  the  case  of  a  captain,  with 
whom  I  prayed  in  an  amputation-tent,  who  was  carried  back  to 
his  bed  without  being  operated  upon,  whose  wound  shortly  after 
proved  fatal,  who  desired  a  call  from  me ;  but  his  attending 
brother  refused  until  he  was  almost  gone,  and  when  I  arrived 
reason  was  dethroned,  and  it  was  "  too  late  ! "  His  wound  had 
bled,  frail  nature  gave  way,  and  to  see  the  brave  soldier  struggling 
in  the  agonies  of  death,  and  that  too  with  an  ungratified  desire  to 
see  the  chaplain  about  his  spiritual  condition,  presented  a  scene 
solemn  and  lamentable.  I  recollect  the  case  of  an  assistant  sur- 
geon of  the  U.  S.  army,  who  seemed  to  be  an  humble  Christian ; 
yet,  while  lying  in  Chesapeake  Hospital,  through  surrounding 
discouragements,  got  into  the  fog,  and  began  to  doubt  his  interest 
in  Christ,  and  giving  way  to  a  desponding  frame,  and  fearing  his 
sudden  dissolution  with  the  awful  foreboding  of  dying  unpre- 
pared, he  sent  for  me  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  I  got 
up,  and  upon  hastening  to  his  room,  found  him  in  deep  dis- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  149 

tress,  cast  down,  and  feeling  as  though  God  had  forsaken  him,  he 
was  in  deep  agony  of  soul.  "  What  distresses  you,  doctor?"  I 
said,  as  I  approached  him.  "  O  chaplain,  I  feel  most  awful  bad. 
I  have  been  a  professor  for  several  years,  and  thought  I  enjoyed 
religion  ;  but  now  I  feel  as  though  I  had  lost  it  all."  "  Don't 
be  discouraged,  doctor ;  perhaps  God  is  only  trying  you.  Job 
says,  '  Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him/  God  afflicts 
his  own  children  in  love  and  mercy' for  their  profit/  and  it  is 
their  duty  to  be  resigned.  The  very  fact  of  your  deep  concern 
about  your  salvation  is  clear  evidence  that  you  have  not  ( lost  it 
all/  and  that  God  has  not  forsaken  you.  Look  up,  '  be  of  good 
cheer  j '  'let  not  your  heart  be  troubled ; '  '  cast  thy  burden  upon 
the  Lord,  and  he  will  sustain  thee.'  Bring  all  your  troubles, 
doubts,  and  fears,  and  lay  them  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and 
throw  yourself,  just  as  you  are,  right  into  the  arms  of  Jesus,  and 
he  will  lift  the  burden  from  your  troubled  soul.  Your  soul- 
trouble,  doubtless,  arises  from  your  disease  of  body  ;  and  if  you 
will  but  remember  the  troubles  and  sufferings  of  Jesus,  it  will 
help  to  release  you."  With  a  few  words  of  exhortation  and  com- 
fort, and  a  word  of  prayer,  we  bade  him  good-night,  and  left  him 
much  releaved  of  his  doubts  and  fears.  Rising  out  of  his  slough 
of  despond,  the  doctor  soon  got  well,  and  returned  to  duty. 

Another  very  touching  case  was  that  of  a  private  soldier,  lying  at 
the  point  of  death  in  the  lonely  Gangrene  Camp.  It  was  a  cold, 
chilly  night  in  November,  when,  summoned  by  the  call  of  this 
dying  soldier,  we  approached  his  tent,  near  midnight.  Lit  up 
with  the  pale  light  of  the  moon,  and  the  candle  dimly  burning, 
we  approached  the  lonely  bedside  of  the  heroic  patriot.  Gazing 
upon  his  placid  eye  and  serene  countenance,  we  soon  saw  he  bore 
the  image  of  Christ;  and,  instead  of  being  perplexed  with  doubts 
and  fears,  found  him  rejoicing  in  the  God  of  his  salvation.  And 
feeling  that  the  time  of  his  departure  was  near  at  hand,  he  said, 
"  I  have  sent  for  you,  chaplain,  to  administer  a  word  of  comfort 
in  my  last  hours ;  and  to  request  you  to  write  a  letter  of  sym- 
pathy and  consolation  to  ray  dear  wife  and  children  after  I  am 
dead  and  gone ;  and  tell  them  that  I  died  happy  in  Christ,  re- 
questing them  to  strive  to  meet  me  in  heaven."  After  a  very 


150  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

refreshing  interview  with  him  about  his  religious  experience  and 
sufferings  of  the  past,  and  his  bright  prospects  for  the  future, 
closing  with  reading  an  appropriate  passage  of  Scripture  and  a 
word  of  prayer,  commending  him  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  we  bade 
him  a  long  farewell.  He  died  next  day. 

After  visiting  two  other  patients  close  by,  we  closed  our  noctur- 
nal visits  for  the  night.  These  nightly  calls  were  always  attended 
with  more  than  usual  interest.  The  stillness  of  the  night,  as  well 
as  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  occasion,  always  added  much 
to  the  impressiveness  and  solemnity  of  the  scene.  A  dying 
man,  a  bleeding  soldier,  an  anxious  sinner,  the  fear  of  djeath,  to- 
gether with  the  stern  realities  of  the  external  world  drawing  nigh 
and  rising  in  full  view  before  them,  always  tended  to  deeply 
impress  not  only  the  thoughtful,  but  the  most  careless  and  indif- 
ferent. But  these  were  not  the  only  impressive  sights  we  saw  in 
our  nightly  visits ;  there  were  others  also  deeply  solemn.  "  See 
there !  Do  you  see  that  corpse  wrapped  in  a  winding-sheet  carried 
along  on  a  stretcher  by  those  four  men?"  "Yes;  who  are 
they  ?  "  "  They  are  the  nurses  from  one  of  the  wards.  One  of 
the  patients  has  died,  and  they  are  carrying  his  body  to  the  dead 
house."  "  Who  'a  dead,  boys  ?  "  "  Emanuel  Byers,  from  ward 
twelve."  "  What !  Byers  dead  ?  Why,  he  was  much  better  this 
morning  !  "  "  Yes ;  but  the  tying  of  his  artery  gave  way  to- 
night, and  he  soon  bled  to  death."  "  Gone  at  last !  "  He  had 
prayed  and  wept  much ;  and  as  death  drew  near  to  him,  he 
seemed  to  draw  nigh  to  God.  Among  his  last  words,  he  said, 
"  I  am  resting  on  Christ,  sure."  And,  doubtless,  for  him  "  to 
depart  was  far  better."  Though  his  body  was  bathed  in  his  own 
blood,  yet  with  his  soul  washed  in  the  blood  of  Jesus,  we  trust 
he  has  gone  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  blood- washed  throng  in 
heaven.  And  as  they  bore  away  his  pale  corpse,  by  the  light  of 
the  moon,  to  deposit  it  in  a  red  coffin  in  the  dead  house,  we  were 
deeply  impressed  with  the  solemn  thought  that  we,  too,  must 
soon  die.  Yet  death  was  so  common,  and  we  all  got  so  used  to 
it,  that,  while  in  the  army  and  in  the  hospital,  it  seemed  gener- 
ally to  make  but  little  impression.  When  a  patient  died,  the 
soldiers  called  it  ''getting  discharged"  or  "getting  his  red  over- 
coat." meaning  his  red  coffin. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  151 

CHAPTER  XL 

SCENES   IN   ANDERSONVILLE. 

THE  PRISON—  ITS  CONDITION  —  CRUEL  TREATMENT  —  "  CAN  THIS  BE 
HELL  ?  "  — PRISONERS'  AWFUL  CONDITION  —  MORTALITY  ONE  HUN- 
DRED AND  FIFTY  A  DAY  —  APATHY  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT  TOWARD 
THEM—  HUNDREDS  DIED  OF  BROKEN  HEARTS  —  MANY  WENT  DE- 
RANGED, AND  TURNED  MANIACS  —  A  SCHOOL  AND  CHURCH  THERE 

Now  — -" THE  DEAD-LINE"  —  EXECUTION  OF  UNION  PRISONERS — 
BAND  OF  ROBBERS  AND  MURDERERS  —  Six  TRIED,  AND  CONDEMNED 
TO  BE  HUNG  —  AWFUL  TRAGIC  SCENE  —  THEY  EXPECTED  TO  THE 
LAST  TO  ESCAPE  — THE  CRISIS  OF  ANDERSONVILLE  — MURDER  WILL 
OUT  —  PATRIOTISM  IN  ANDERSONVILLE  —  "I  WOULD  RATHER  HAVE 
DIED  A  DOZEN  DEATHS "  —  "I  AM  NOT  SORRY  THAT  I  ENLISTED "  — 
YOUR  PATRIOTISM  NEVER  DIES:  "!T  is  STRONGER  THAN  DEATH" 
—  DIED  PRAYING  FOR  VICTORY  —  ANDERSONVILLE  HOSPITAL:  AN 
AWFUL  PLACE  —  No  BEDS  BUT  BARE  GROUND  —  RATIONS  —  DIET  — 
ENLARGED  — THE  FOOD  WOULD  PRODUCE  DISEASE  AMONG  SWINE  — 
THE  MOONLIGHT  PRAYER  -  MEETING  —  RELIGION  SWEETENS  THE 
BITTEREST  CUP. 

A  LTHOUGH  Anderson ville  before  the  war  was  a  small,  in- 
-£^-  significant  village  of  four  houses,  one  church,  and  a  post- 
office,  situated  in  Sumpter  county,  Ga.,  it  has  now  a  world-wide 
notoriety.  And  of  all  rebel  prisons,  for  cruel  torture,  revenge, 
wretchedness,  starvation,  murder,  and  death,  there  were  none 
equal  to  it.  Belle  Isle  was  awful,  Libby  was  intolerable,  but 
for  double-distilled  cruelty,  Andersonville  excelled  all.  With 
thirty-five  thousand  starved,  half-naked  prisoners  crowded  into 
an  area  of  some  twenty -five  acres,  literally  covered  all  over  with 
lice  and  vermin;  breathing  an  atmosphere  filled  with  poisonous, 
fetid  odors,  arising  from  sinks  and  putrid  corpses,  it  presented 
a  scene  awfully  terrible  and  horrible  beyond  description.  The 
very  thought  of  it  is  appalling.  To  think  of  it  carries  the  mind 
down  to  the  infernal  regions,  and  makes  one  think  of  the  tor- 
nxMits  of  hell.  And  so  appalling  was  the  scene,  and  horrible 
the  sight,  that  the  brave  heroes  captured  at  Plymouth,  upon 


152  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

entering  it,  out  of  the  depths  of  their  feelings  and  burning 
indignation,  instinctively  exclaimed,  "  Can  this  be  hell  ?  can  this 
be  hell?"  and  feeling  their  need  of  divine  help,  there  arose 
from  many  a  pious  heart  the  earnest  prayer,  "  Lord,  have  mercy. 
May  God  protect  us."  Adding  to  the  loathsomeness  and  wretch- 
edness of  this  horrible  place,  was  a  large  swamp  of  three  or  four 
acres,  extending  half-way  across  the  camp,  through  which  ran  a 
small  brook,  three  or  four  feet  wide,  which,  with  a  few  small 
springs  and  wells,  was  the  only  supply  of  water  for  all  this  vast 
throng  of  suffering  humanity.  The  water  generally  was  so 
thoroughly  impregnated  with  filth  and  excrement,  that  it  was 
entirely  unfit  for  use ;  yet,  rather  than  die  with  thirst,  the  poor 
fellows  drank  it  with  avidity.  Here,  into  this  "  slaughter-pen," 
our  brave  patriots  were  dragged  in  from  Belle  Isle,  Castle 
Thunder,  Pemberton,  Danville,  and  Libby  prisons  by  hundreds 
and  thousands.  And  when  any  of  these  unfortunate  sufferers 
were  fortunate  enough,  by  digging  immense  tunnels,  to  escape, 
the  rebel  tyrants  hunted  them  down  like  dogs,  with  fierce  blood- 
hounds, brought  them  back,  and  punished  them  most  inhumanly 
for  their  struggling  to  get  out.  Here,  huddled  together,  without 
shelter  to  protect  them  from  the  drenching  rains,  winter's  cold 
and  summer's  heat,  with  no  bed  but  the  bare  ground,  and  some- 
times dying  at  the  rate  of  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  a  day,  and 
compelled  to  endure  the  malignant  contempt,  abuse,  and  reproach 
of  the  rebel  tyrants,  their  condition  was  indescribably  wretched 
and  awful.  But  the  most  unpleasant  thing  of  all  to  them,  says 
one  of  their  number,  was  the  apparent  apathy  of  the  Federal 
Government  toward  them,  and  its  want  of  efforts  to  rescue  them 
from  the  iron  heel  of  their  unmerciful  oppressors.  Cut  off  from 
all  communication  with  the  North,  and  the  rebels  laboring  to 
convince  them  that  their  Northern  friends  had  forsaken  them, 
they  succeeded  in  fastening  the  conviction  upon  the  hearts  of 
some  that  the  Federal  Government  had  abandoned  them.  And 
to  feel  themselves  thus  forsaken  in  times  of  deep  distress,  is  one 
of  the  hardest  things  to  endure. 

'Having  voluntarily  left  their  homes  at  their  country's  call, 
and  ready  to  fight  and  die  for  its  honor  and  defence,  and  now  to 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  153 

be  neglected  and  forsaken,  as  they  felt  themselves  to  be,  was 
enough  to  crush  and  break  the  heart  of  the  most  noble  and 
devoted  patriot.  To  endure  sickness,  hunger,  thirst,  and  rebel 
contumely  was  awful  hard ;  but  nothing  compared  to  the  grief 
and  anguish  of  soul  arising  from  the  conviction  —  although  it 
was  not  true  —  that  the  Government,  the  army,  the  navy,  arid 
their  friends  at  the  North  had  forsaken  them ;  and  so  severe  was 
this  trial  to  them,  and  the  awful  cruel  treatment  they  received, 
that  hundreds  sank  away,  and  died  of  broken  hearts;  many 
went  deranged,  and  became  maniacs;  others,  filled  with  despair, 
and  preferring  death  to  such  a  wretched  life,  crossed  the  dead-line 
in  order  to  be  shot.  Having  suffered  there  so  long  and  so  ex- 
tremely severe,  without  knowing  of  any  effort  on  the  part  of  the 
Government  to  relieve  them ;  and  the  rebels  doing  all  they  could 
to  convince  them  that  the  Government  had  forsaken  them ;  and 
thus  try  to  induce  them  to  join  the  confederacy,  and  having  no 
means  of  ascertaining  the  feelings  of  the  Government  toward 
them;  and  struggling  along  through  such  horrible  scenes  of  filth, 
cruelty,  and  murder  —  it  is  no  wonder  that  many  gave  way  to 
despair,  and  turned  maniacs.  This  stronghold  of  cruelty  was  at 
first  designed  for  J>ut  ten  thousand  men,  and  contained  but  six- 
teen acres ;  but  it  was  afterward  enlarged  to  twenty-five  acres. 
And,  although  there  have  been  volumes  written  about  the  suffer- 
ings and  atrocious  cruelties  perpetrated  upon  our  soldiers  in 
Andersonville,  the  half  will  never  be  told.  Language  fails  to 
express  it.  The  fifty  acres  of  graves,  and  the  sacred  spot  where 
lie  the  mortal  remains  of  thirteen  thousand  heroic  martyrs  who 
perished  there,  will  doubtless  be  guarded,  and  preserved,  and 
adorned  with  appropriate  monuments,  handing  down  to  future 
generations,  through  all  coming  time,  the  cruel  torture  there 
inflicted,  and  the  heroic  patriotism  there  manifested  by  our  un- 
flinching heroes.  It  is  said  that,  when  a  .train  of  cars  approaches 
this  consecrated  spot,  every  eye  is  strained  to  see  it,  and  every 
voice  is  hushed  in  silence  as  the  train  rolls  slowly  by.  The 
power  of  association  is  so  great  while  approaching  near  the  pre- 
cious dust  of  these  immortal  heroes,  that  the  heart  so  fills  with 
sympathy  and  indignation  that  the  tongue  id  mute  in  contem- 


154  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

plating  the  tragic,  horrible  scenes  of  their  sufferings  and  deatn. 
It  is  an  encouraging,  pleasing  fact  to  know  that  the  "  American 
Missionary  Association  "  has  recently  established  a  school  and  a 
church  in  this  noted  place.  This  is  progress  in  the  right  direc- 
tion ;  and  God  said,  "  Let  there  be  light ! " 

"THE  DEAD-LINE." 

As  our  Union  soldiers  approached  Andersonville  prison,  they 
were  warned  by  those  outside,  "Beware  of  the  Dead-Line"  And 
"  What  is  that  ? "  said  one.  It  is  a  slender  wooden  railing 
extending  all  around  inside,  and  about  a  rod  from  the  inner 
stockade  of  the  prison,  which,  if  a  prisoner  approached,  passed  or 
attempted  to  pass,  to  get  a  drink  of  water,  or  for  any  other  pur- 
pose, he  met  with  certain  death  from  the  vigilant  sentinel,  charged 
with  strict  orders  to  shoot  every  man  who  attempts  to  pass  that 
fatal  line.  There  goes  a  poor  thirsty  prisoner,  just  ready  to  die 
with  thirst ;  he  crawls  up  to  slake  his  parched  tongue,  all  un- 
conscious of  his  danger,  without  knowing  of  the  barbarous  law 
or  order ;  the  eye  of  the  bloodthirsty  guard  is  upon  him ;  but 
encouraged  by  the  sight  of  the  cooling  brook,,  his  languid  eye 
sparkles  with  joy  at  the  bright  prospect  of  a  refreshing  drink ; 
along  he  drags  his  frail  body  buoyant  with  hope ;  but,  alas !  as 
he  was  about  to  realize  his  fond  expectation,  the  ruthless  rebel 
raises  his  gun,  takes  a  deadly  aim,  and,  without  a  moment's 
warning,  the  loyal  patriot  falls  a  lifeless  corpse,  bathed  in  his 
own  life's  blood.  And  just  here  let  me  say  to  you,  my  impeni- 
tent friend,  God  has  his  "  dead-line,"  beyond  which,  if  you  go  in 
life,  eternal  death  is  your  certain  inevitable  doom.  Where  is 
it?  Just  where  the  sinner  commits  "the  sm  unto  death;" 
grieves  and  quenches  the  Holy  Spirit,  until  he  ceases  to  strive 
with  him.  Although  God  is  slow  to  wrath,  full  of  compassion, 
and  abundant  in  mercy,  and  waits  to  be  gracious,  yet  he  will  not 
wait  always;  for  there  is  a  point — a  "dead-line" — beyond  which, 
if  the  sinner  goes,  he  sins  away  his  day  of  grace ;  and  then  for 
him  "there  remaineth  no  more  sacrifice  for  sins,  but  a  certain 
fearful  looking  for  of  judgment  and  fiery  indignation ; "  and 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  155 

then,  being  "past  feeling,"  and  "joined  to  his  idols,"  God  pro- 
nounces the  awful  sentence,  "Let  kirn  alone  !  "  and  then  his  con- 
demnation is  sealed  forever.  Gcd  spared  and  warned  the  ante- 
diluvian world  one  hundred  and  twenty  years ;  but  when  they 
had  gone  on  in  sin,  "  treasuring  up  wrath  against  the  day  of 
wrath,"  until  their  cup  was  full,  and  the  earth  was  filled  with 
violence,  God  says,  "  My  spirit  shall  not  always  strive  with  man  ;" 
and  he  issues  his  decree,  and  declares,  "  I  will  destroy  man  whom 
I  have  created  from  the  face  of  the  earth."  But  Noah  having 
found  grace  in  God's  sight,  God  commanded  him  to  build  an  ark 
to  the  saving  of  his  house.  The  ark  being  finished,  "the  Lord 
said  unto  Noah,  Come  thou  and  all  thy  house  into  the  ark ; " 
and  they,  and  two  of  every  living  species  went  in ;  and  God 
having  shut  them  in,  the  closing  of  the  ark's  ponderous  door 
upon  its  huge  hinges  announced  to  a  dying  world  the  day  of 
mercy  is  over,  and  the  day  of  wrath  begun.  It  was  then,  with 
those  excluded,  too  late.  The  door  was  shut.  They  had  passed 
the  dead-line  of  God's  mercy,  and  God  swears,  in  his  wrath,  that 
"they  shall  not  enter  into  his  rest."  (Heb.  iii.  11.)  And  now  the 
rain  falls  in  torrents,  the  windows  of  heaven  are  opened,  and  the 
fountains  of  the  great  deep  are  broken  up,  and  the  whole  earth 
was  deluged,  and  all  out  of  the  ark  perished  in  the  mighty  flood. 
Take,  for  example,  the  almost  Christian,  one  with  whom  the 
good  spirit  and  the  evil  spirit  are  both  striving.  Satan  strives  to 
drag  him  down  to  hell,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  strives  to  raise  him 
up  to  heaven.  How  critical  his  condition  ;  how  momentous  the 
conflict !  It  is  the  crisis  of  the  soul.  Standing  upon  the  pivot 
of  eternity,  seemingly,  a  small  influence  decides  his  destiny  for- 
ever. Oh,  how  critical  his  condition  !  Another  crooked  step, 
one  more  sinful  thrust  against  the  Spirit's  wooing  voice,  may 
banish  him  forever  from  your  breast,  carry  you  across  the  fatal 
line,  and  seal  your  damnation  in  hell  forever.  Oh,  then,  strive 
that  you  "quench  not  the  Spirit,"  but  cherish  and  yield  to  his  im- 
pressions ;  let  him  come  into  your  soul,  and  take  possession  of 
your  heart!  A  man  who  has  lost  his  way  in  a  dark,  dreary 
mine,  and  can  only  find  his  \vay  out,  and  save  his  life,  by  a  ruulle 
he  carries  in  his  hand,  would  be  very  careful  how  he  carries  it,  lest 


156  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

ii  be  blown  out  and  let  him  perish  in  darkness.  So  should  the 
almost  Christian  take  great  heed,  lest  he  quench  the  Spirit,  and 
let  him  perish  forever.  Oh,  then,  reader,  lest  this  be  your  case ; 
let  us  beseech  you,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  by  the  love  of  Christ, 
and  by  the  joys  of  heaven,  yield  to  the  Spirit,  and  come  to  Jesus, 
and  come  just  now  ! 

EXECUTION  OF  UNION  PRISONERS. 

Man  is  a  creature  of  circumstances.  We  are  all  influenced 
very  much  by  our  surroundings;  and  whether  or  not  it  rose 
from  the  hardening  influence  of  the  barbarous,  cruel  treatment 
our  men  received  in  Andersonville,  there  was  a  large  gang  of 
robbers,  who  made  it  their  business  to  beat,  plunder,  and  murder 
prisoners  as  they  came  into  camp,  and  as  opportunity  favored. 
This  outrageous  work  was  suffered  to  go  on  until  it  rose  to  such 
a  height  it  proved  its  own  destruction.  As  new  prisoners  came 
in,  those  thieves  availed  themselves  of  every  opportunity  to  rob 
them.  Seizing  a  new  comer,  one  day,  as  he  entered  the  prison, 
after  lacerating  his  head  and  beating  him  most  severely,  they 
robbed  him  of  his  watch  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  dol- 
lars in  greenbacks.  He  made  complaint  to  Capt.  Wirz,  and  the 
fact  spread  throughout  the  prison.  And  filled  with  indignation 
at  such  enormous  cruelty,  the  whole  camp  became  thoroughly 
aroused,  and  armed  with  clubs,  etc.,  a  large  crowd  collected  and 
proceeded  to  arrest  the  robbers  as  fast  as  possible,  and  hand  them 
over  to  the  rebel  guards  outside,  to  keep  them  for  trial  by  our 
own  men.  On  the  next  day,  aided  by  the  rebel  quartermaster, 
sergeants,  and  guards,  guided  by  a  noted  character  known  as 
"  Limber  Jim,"  and  his  comrades,  they  soon  arrested  about  fifty, 
and  twelve  of  our  newly  arrived  men  were  appointed  to  try 
them.  Under  their  tents  were  found  money,  pistols,  knives,  and 
a  few  dead  bodies.  And  upon  satisfactory  evidence,  six  of  them 
were  convicted,  and  found  guilty  of  robbery  and  murder,  and 
sentenced  to  be  hung  till  dead.  Those  not  found  thus  guilty 
were  sent  back  into  the  prison,  and  made  to  run  the  gauntlet 
between  a  long  row  of  deeply-incensed  men,  who  so  furiously 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  157 

pelted  them  with  clubs  and  stones,  that  one  was  killed  in  the 
furious  action.  The  day  of  execution,  July  12,  1864,  having 
arrived,  a  gallows  was  erected  in  the  prison,  and  at  half-past 
four  P.M.,  mounted  on  horseback,  dressed  in  spotless  white,  Capt. 
Wirz  came  in  with  the  six  condemned  murderers  and  robbers 
under  guard,  and  delivered  them  up  to  the  vigilance  committee, 
saying,  "  These  men  have  been  tried  and  convicted  by  their  own 
fellows,  and  I  now  return  them  to  you  in  as  good  condition  as 
I  received  them.  You  can  now  do  with  them  as  your  reason, 
justice,  and  mercy  dictates.  And  may  God  protect  both  you 
and  them."  After  their  sentence  was  announced,  the  Catholic 
priest  came  and  plead  most  earnestly  for  their  lives  •  but  seeing 
that  he  prevailed  nothing,  and  convinced  that  the  poor  unfor- 
tunate men  must  soon  die,  he  began  to  try  to  induce  them  to 
"  prepare  to  meet  their  God."  He  talked  and  prayed  with  them. 
And  yet,  believing  that  the  whole  affair  was  disguised  merely  to 
frighten  them,  the  whole  doomed  six  exhibited  a  degree  of  won- 
derful unconcern  about  their  awful  impending  crisis.  Vain, 
delusive  hope!  Blinded  by  sin,  hardened  by  crime,  and  de- 
ceived by  their  false  hopes,  like  the  careless  sinner,  they  cried 
peace  and  safety  when  sudden  destruction  was  near.  How 
awful  and  tragic  the  scene !  Tried,  condemned,  sentenced  to  be 
hung  dead,  and  standing  at  the  foot  of  the  gallows,  gazed  upon 
by  tens  of  thousands,  and  yet  expect  to  escape.  And  it  was  not 
until  they  ascended  the  gallows  that  they  began  to  feel  that  it 
was  a  reality,  and  that  they  were  about  to  be  executed.  "  Be 
sure  your  sins  will  find  you  out."  "  Murder  WILL  out."  As  they 
were  about  to  mount  the  scaffold,  one  of  them  made  a  desperate 
lunge,  broke  away,  and  ran  through  the  swamp  to  the  opposite 
side  of  the  prison.  But  mark  ye,  it  was  no  escape.  The  decree 
had  gone  forth,  "  you  must  hang;"  and  the  enraged  crowd,  eager 
for  his  execution,  soon  arrested  and  brought  him  back,  with  a 
countenance  filled  with  wretchedness  and  despair,  and  securely 
placed  him  with  his  condemned  comrades.  Oh,  how  awful  and 
lamentable  the  tragic  scene!  There  they  stand — six  American 
soldiers,  prisoners  of  war,  sentenced  to  be  hung  for  robbing  and 
murdering  their  own  fellow-soldiers  and  captives  in  Anderson- 


158  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

ville  prison !  What  a  foul  blot  upon  American  soldiery ;  and 
what  a  deep  disgrace  to  the  United  States  army  !  An  opportunity 
was  given  them  to  speak,  but  they  had  but  little  to  say.  After 
a  few  words  of  advice,  and  requesting  their  comrades  to  take 
warning  by  their  sad  fate,  meal-sacks  were  drawn  over  their 
heads,  and  the  dreaded  ropes  being  adjusted,  all  is  ready.  A 
short  pause  ensues ;  all  eyes  are  fixed.  It  is  the  crisis  of  Ander- 
son ville,  and  to  the  condemned  the  crisis  of  the  soul.  The  awful 
form  of  death  seems  to  stand  out  before  them.  "  The  door  of 
the  eternal  world  is  swinging  open;"  the  grave  yawns  to  receive 
them.  Crime,  judgment,  and  stern  retribution  are  making  their 
terrible  impressions.  "  Swift,  vivid  thoughts  are  in  every  heart, 
and  the  prayer,  God  have  mercy  on  them,  falls  from  many  a 
lip."  The  hour  is  up ;  their  time  is  out.  The  drop  falls,  and 
they  are  launched  from  time  into  eternity.  There  they  hang, 
swinging  in  the  air,  gone  to  reap  the  fruits  of  their  own  doings 
in  their  eternal  reward.  How  sad !  "  The  way  of  the  trans- 
gressor is  hard."  Let  him  take  warning. 

PATRIOTISM  IN  ANDERSONVILLE. 

With  all  the  excruciating  torments  inflicted  on, our  brave 
patriots  in  Andersonville,  with  few  exceptions,  their  heroic  devo- 
tion to  their  country  never  abated ;  though  surrounded  with  filth, 
cruelty,  starvation,  murder,  and  death,  they  still  clung  to  the 
dear  old  flag  with  unyielding  pertinacity,  choosing  rather  to  die 
martyrs  than  traitors.  While  a  few  took  the  oath  of  allegiance 
and  joined  the  confederacy,  expecting  thereby  to  escape  and  flee 
to  our  lines,  the  great  body  of  the  men  stood,  with  unshaken 
confidence  and  unflinching  hearts,  for  God  and  their  country ! 
This  was  the  true  spirit  of  martyrdom.  To  face  the  belching 
cannon,  to  storm  batteries,  make  charges,  and  capture  forts,  re- 
quires pluck  and  strong  courage ;  but  to  face  starvation,  hunger, 
and  murder,  to  drag  out  a  life  more  intolerable  than  death  itself, 
amidst  such  fiendish  cruelty  and  barbarity  as  characterized  this 
slaughter-pen,  required  something  more  than  pluck  and  courage. 
And  to  endure  all  this,  when  the  Government,  which  they  had  so 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  169 

nobly  volunteered  to  defend,  treated  them,  as  they  thought,  with 
such  a  spirit  of  indifference  as  led  them  to  believe  it  had  forsaken 
them,  manifested  a  self-sacrificing  heroism  unparalleled  in  the 
history  of  the  world  ;  and  sometimes,  when  a  number  reduced  to 
the  extremity  of  want,  with  death  staring  them  in  the  face,  did 
go  over  to  the  confederacy,  the  feeling  of  the  great  mass  of  the 
soldiers  was,  "I  would  rather  have  died  a  dozen  deaths  than  be 
guilty  of  such  disloyalty."  After  they  had  been  years  in  the 
army,  and  several  mouths  in  Andersonville,  we  hear  them  say, 
UJ  am  not  sorry  that  I  enlisted."  No;  true  patriotism,  like 
true  love,  never  dies  out :  it  is  stronger  than  death.  And  with 
the  unquenchable  fire  burning  in  their  bones,  and  blazing  upon 
the  altar  of  their  hearts,  thirteen  thousand  brave  martyrs,  rather 
than  turn  traitors,  chose  to  die  amidst  the  devouring  cruelties 
and  torments  of  Andersonville,  and  left  their  uncoffined  bones  to 
tell  the  tragic  story  of  their  sad  fate.  Being  excluded  from  the 
world,  and  deprived  of  all  news  from  the  army  and  the  progress 
of  the  war,  except  what  they  heard  from  prisoners  coming  in, 
their  condition  was  not  only  inexpressibly  wretched,  but;  dreary 
and  lonely  ;  yet,  like  the  captive  Jews  in  Babylon,  they  never 
forgot  their  country.  Dejected,  discouraged,  and  heart-broken 
as  they  were.,  yet,  methinks,  I  can  hear  them  exclaiming,  in  the 
language  of  the  Psalmist,  "  If  I  forget  thee,  O  my  country,  let 
my  right  hand  forget  her  cunning !  "  etc.  (Ps.  cxxxvii.  5,  6.) 
Hence,  with  all  their  cruelties,  when  any  encouraging  news  came 
from  the  army,  crowds  would  collect,  and  sing  with  joy  a  few 
patriotic  songs,  such  as  "  Red,  White,  and  Blue,"  "  My  Country," 
and  "  Star-Spangled  Banner ;  "  at  which  the  rebel  guards  were 
surprised  and  somewhat  confused,  as  though  they  hardly  knew 
what  it  meant.  Devotedly  attached  to  their  country,  and  having 
so  long  shared  each  others'  hardships  and  misfortunes,  they  be- 
came warmly  attached  to  each  other;  and,  says  one  of  them, 
"  We  loved  each  other  as  brothers."  Even  in  the  hospital,  while 
racked  with  pain,  and  writhing  in  agony  from  the  most  malignant 
forms  of  diarrhoea,  dropsy,  and  scurvy,  they  expressed  their 
trongest  desires  and  most  earnest  longings  for  success  and  victory 
*.o  crown  our  arms.  Their  patriotism  was  of  the  undying  kind. 


161  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

With  the  same  heroic  devotion  with  which  they  went  forth  to 
fight  the  battles  of  their  country,  firmly  clinging  to  the  dear  old 
flag,  they  died  the  most  excruciable  deaths  possible  for  rebel 
tyrants  to  inflict.  The  severe  shock  of  battle,  and  all  the  unut- 
terable horrors  of  starvation,  death,  and  murder  of  Andersonville, 
failed  to  lessen  their  unfaltering  devotion  to  their  bleeding  coun- 
try, and  dying  even  by  starvation  and  torture,  martyr-like,  their 
last  prayers  were  for  victory  and  Union. 

ANDERSONVILLE  HOSPITAL. 

The  word  hospital  usually  means  a  place  where  sick  and 
wounded  are  nursed  and  cared  for ;  but  here  it  seemed  more  like 
mockery.  The  hospital,  at  first,  was  inside  the  stockade,  on  both 
sides  of  the  run  passing  through  the  prison.  The  indescribable 
filth,  the  pestilential  air,  and  the  utter  want  of  comfort  and  atten- 
tion to  the  patients  was  perfectly  awful.  The  very  sight  of  the 
inside  was  sickening  and  horribly  revolting.  With  a  poor,  scanty, 
sickly  diet,  and  many  with  nothing  fit  to  eat ;  with  but  little  medi- 
cine, and  no  beds  but  the  naked  ground ;  with  no  tents,  and  but 
very  scanty  covering  of  any  kind,  the  very  thought  of  going  into 
such  a  horrible  place  was  enough  to  make  a  well  man  sick. 
The  number  of  patients  was  never  large,  seldom  much  over  two 
hundred ;  not  because  there  were  but  few  sick,  but  because  they 
died  as  fast  as  they  took  them  in,  and  because,  if  a  sick  man  had 
any  friends,  he  preferred  to  run  his  chance  outside.  It  was 
almost  certain  death  to  go  there,  and  they  never  went  until  the 
very  last  resort.  To  come  out  alive  was  wonderful.  And  yet, 
withal,  there  was  little  or  no  complaint  among  the  patients. 
About  the  first  of  June,  1864,  a  much  more  comfortable  hospital, 
containing  about  four  acres,  was  fitted  up  outside  the  stockade, 
near  one  hundred  rods  from  the  prison.  Regularly  laid  out 
with  a  few  shady  trees  and  inferior  tents,  and  with  a  stream  of 
water  passing  through  it,  the  accommodation  and  comforts  were 
far  superior  to  the  former.  About  a  month  later,  it  was  again 
sufficiently  enlarged  to  accommodate  twenty-five  hundred  pa- 
tients, and  seven  hundred  were  admitted  in  one  day.  To  be 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  161 

admitted  into  the  hospital,  the  patient  had  to  attend  the  sick-call, 
10  which  one  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  poor  lingering  sufferers 
would  come  out  daily,  seeking  relief.  Hundreds  were  brought 
in  blankets;  and  the  number  received  into  the  hospital  corre- 
sponded with  the  number  of  vacancies  occasioned  by  death  the 
past  twenty-four  hours.  And  here  the  poor  sick  fellows,  scorched 
with  burning  fevers,  were  often  left  standing  in  the  hot  sun  all 
day  without  anything  to  eat  or  drink.  How  awful  their  suffer- 
ings !  Stern  indignity,  heartless  cruelty,  and  ruthless  inhumanity 
seemed  to  characterize  every  act  of  treatment.  A  shivering  suf- 
ferer was  shot  by  the  guard,  and  had  his  leg  broken  above  the 
knee,  for  warming  himself  by  the  guard's  fire;  his  leg  was 
amputated,  and  he  died  shortly  after.  Such  cases  of  extreme 
cruelty  were  frequent.  The  nurses  would  often  search  and  rob  the 
dying  patients  before  they  were  entirely  dead.  The  rations  per  day 
were  two  ounces  of  meat  and  a  piece  of  coarse  corn-bread^  about 
two  inches  square,  made  of  corn  and  cobs  all  ground  up  together. 
In  very  bad  cases,  they  were  allowed  two  gills  of  flour,  and  occa- 
sionally a  little  loathsome  rice.  What  a  mess  for  sick  men  in  a 
land  of  plenty ;  not  better  than  ordinary  hog  feed !  Some  of  the 
surgeons  often  complained,  and  said,  "Some  of  the  food  furnished 
the  patients  would  produce  disease  among  swine" 

The  principal  diseases  were  chronic  diarrhoea,  scurvy,  dropsy, 
and  typhoid  fever ;  all  in  their  most  malignant  forms.  In  cases 
of  dropsy,  the  sufferings  were  extreme.  Sometimes  the  limbs  of 
the  poor  sufferers  would  burst  open  and  fill  up  with  maggots ; 
and  the  pain  would  become  so  severe,  they  would  cry  out  with 
agony  for  some  one  to  come  and  kill  them.  In  other  cases,  it 
would  affect  the  extremities,  and  disable  the  patients  from  walk- 
ing ;  with  others,  it  would  settle  in  the  mouth,  and  so  affect  the 
gums  that  the  teeth  would  all  drop  out  at  once,  and  leave  the 
patient  entirely  toothless.  Says  a  prisoner :  "  I  have  seen  hun- 
dreds of  cases  in  this  disease,  where  the  men  have  actually  starved 
to  death,  because  they  were  unable  to  eat  the  coarse  food  furnished 
them  by  the  confederates." 

Living  among  such  awful  filth  and  impurities,  the  blood  of 
the  men  generally  became  so  impure  that  the  least  break  of  the 
11 


162  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB. 

skin  usually  led  to  gangrene,  subsequent  amputation,  and  con- 
sequent death.  Exposed  to  the  hot  rays  of  a  scorching  sun,  the 
upper  surface  of  the  foot  often  became  blistered,  which  would 
break,  and  leave  the  foot  all  raw ;  and,  becoming  gangrenous,  a 
loss  of  the  foot  was  inevitable,  and  death  generally  ensued  from 
amputation.  The  patients  subjected  to  amputation  averaged  six 
or  seven  daily,  and  they  almost  invariably  died.  A  great  many 
suffered  most  cruelly  from  the  use  of  poisonous  vaccine  matter 
and  from  the  exposure  to  the  burning  rays  of  the  sun,  and,  from 
a  combination  of  cruelties,  many  went  totally  blind.  Raining 
for  twenty-one  days  in  succession,  in  June,  1864,  tended  much  to 
increase  the  suffering  and  mortality.  With  fifteen  thousand 
prisoners,  without  any  shelter,  huddled  up  together  in  such  a 
slaughter  pen  as  this,  where  it  took  the  healthiest  prisoner  three 
hours  each  day  to  divest  himself  of  the  abounding  pestiferous 
lice,  together  with  the  awful  surroundings,  must  have  presented 
a  scene  the  most  appalling  and  horrible  the  eye  of  mortal  man 
ever  beheld.  Nearly  three  thousand  died  during  August,  1864. 
Some  of  the  surgeons  complained  of  their  fare  in  strong  terms 
to  the  higher  authorities ;  but  their  cries  were  disregarded. 

The  men  seemed  to  cling  to  life  with  a  wonderful  tenacity 
Fired  with  heroic  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  the  Union,  hope 
buoyed  them  up  until  life  was  almost  extinct.  With  a  gradual, 
constant  decline,  they  usually  passed  away  at  last  so  suddenly 
ind  unexpectedly  that  they  often  failed  to  realize  the  approach 
of  death,  and  said  but  little  about  dying.  Almost  dead  and 
dying  for  days,  they  seemed  to  pass  off  without  much  pain.  Some 
gave  bright  evidences  of  preparation,  and,  leaving  their  dying 
messages  to  be  sent  home,  died  triumphant  deaths,  and,  with 
their  souls  washed  in  Christ's  blood,  went  from  this  awful  scene 
of  suffering  to  "where  the  wicked  cease  to  trouble,  and  the 
weary  are  forever  at  rest." 

Such,  reader,  is  but  a  very  faint  description  of  the  untold  and 
Awful  cruelties  and  sufferings  of  Andersonville  Hospital.  But 
the  HALF  is  not  told.  The  facts  beggar  all  description. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  163 

THE   MOONLIGHT  PRAYER-MEETING. 

Notwithstanding  the  intolerable  suffering  and  untold  cruelties 
of  Anderson  ville,  though  distressed,  forlorn,  and  cast  down, 
many  of  the  suffering  heroes  often  met  for  prayer  and  supplica- 
tion. Although  the  rebels  cut  off  their  communication  with  the 
outer  world,  yet  they  could  not  prevent  their  communion  with 
God.  Deeply  realizing  their  need  of  Divine  help,  with  no 
covering  but  the  canopy  of  heaven,  and  no  light  but  that  of  the 
moon,  yet  enlightened  by  God's  spirit,  and  constrained  by  Christ's 
love,  they  often  met,  read  God's  word,  sung  and  prayed ;  and 
pouring  out  their  souls  and  hearts  unto  God  in  prayer  for 
protection  and  deliverance,  they  enjoyed  precious  times  of  re- 
freshing ;  and,  says  one  of  them,  "  We  could  pray  as  well,  or 
better,  there,  than  at  home."  And  there,  like  David,  with  their 
"  souls  among  lions,"  yet,  like  him,  with  their  hearts  stayed  and 
fixed  upon  God,  they  sang  and  gave  praise.  (Ps.  Ivii.)  There, 
like  imprisoned,  fettered  Paul  and  Silas,  though  encompassed 
with  a  strong  stockade,  an  insolent  guard,  and  a  terrible  "  dead- 
line," yet,  like  Daniel  in  the  lions'  den,  drawing  nigh  unto 
God,  they  felt  that  the  Lord  of  hosts  was  with  them.  There, 
surrounded  with  the  dead  and  dying,  and  feeling  that  the  salva- 
tion of  their  comrades,  under  God,  depended  upon  their  prayers, 
and  becoming  so  deeply  interested  and  praying  so  earnestly  for 
their  salvation  and  protection,  they  almost  forgot  their  imprison- 
ment. In  this  we  see  the  power  of  the  Christian  religion  to 
sustain,  strengthen,  and  comfort.  With  warm,  ardent  love  to 
Christ,  and  strong  faith  in  Jesus,  religion  will  lighten  the  heav- 
iest burden  and  sweeten  the  bitterest  cup. 


164  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE     EXCHANGE. 

LONG  LOOKED  FOB  — MANY  EXCHANGING  TIME  FOR  ETERNITY  — 
THEY  CHEER  THE  OLD  FLAG  —  "!T  NEVER  SEEMED  so  DEAR"  — 
THEY  WEPT  PROFUSELY  —  REJOICING  —  SUNG  THE  "BATTLE-CRY  OF 
FREEDOM"  —  WHAT  A  HAPPY,  GRATEFUL  CROWD  —  FURLOUGHED 
HOME  THIRTY  DAYS  —  THE  DEPARTURE  — "  BE  EEADY  TO  DEPART  " 
—  FILLED  WITH  REJOICING  —  THEY  CRIED,  "  THANK  GOD  !  THANK 
GOD  ! "  —  "THE  YEAR  OF  JUBILEE  is  COME  "  —  LOUD  SHOUTS  OF  JOY 

BURST  FROM  THOUSANDS  —  FAREWELL,  ANDERSONVILLE  —  SAD  DIS- 
APPOINTMENT —  IT  WAS  NO  EXCHANGE  :  ONLY  A  REMOVAL  —  "  HOPE 
DEFERRED  MAKETH  THE  HEART  SICK." 

A  LTHOUGH  they  had  been  sadly  deceived,  disappointed, 
•**•  and  made  heartsick  by  frequent  false  promises  of  release, 
at  last  a  day  of  deliverance  arrives.  To  the  poor  half-starved, 
suffering  heroes,  it  was  a  glorious  day.  Deliverance  from  the 
atrocious  cruelties  and  tyranny  of  Andersonville,  Florence, 
Milan,  etc.,  was  almost  like  life  from  the  dead.  It  is  one  of  the 
great  events  of  the  war.  Behold  the  brave  heroes,  ten  thousand 
poor  half-starved,  shoeless,  hatless,  shirtless  men,  almost*  naked, 
whose  blackened  skin,  blackened  by  filth  and  dirt,  hung  loosely 
upon  their  protruding  frames.  There  they  are,  the  maimed,  the 
halt,  the  blind — the  sons,  brothers,  husbands  of  the  North. 
Brave,  heroic  men !  some  who  have  dragged  out  a  life  more  in- 
tolerable than  death  itself,  but  at  last  to  be  exchanged ;  but 
with  many,  alas,  it  is  too  late !  They  are  dying,  exchanging 
time  for  eternity.  But  with  the  great  mass  it  is  a  day  of  ecstatic 
joy  and  rejoicing.  As  they  drew  near  and  saw  the  glorious  old 
flag,  they  gave  it  three  most  hearty  cheers.  And  when  they 
stepped  upon  the  steamers,  and  fully  realized  that  they  were  final- 
ly cut  loose  from  rebeldom,  they  gave  three  more  grateful  cheers, 
and  began  to  sing  "The  Battle-Cry  of  Freedom,"  "Rally  Round 
the  Flag,  Boys,"  etc.  The  men  divest  themselves  of  their  filthy 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    \VAR.  165 

rags  and  throw  them  into  the  river  or  furnace,  wash  off,  and, 
after  putting  on  new  and  comfortable  clothing,  they  rejoiced 
with  joy  unspeakable !  A  large  lot  of  prisoners  from  Florence 
sailed  down  from  Savannah  to  Venus  Point,  the  place  of  ex- 
change, in  the  Beauregard,  Gen.  Lee,  and  Jeff.  Davis.  The 
Beauregard  bore  the  flag  of  truce,  carried  the  officers ;  and  the 
other  two  steamers,  the  privates.  Rounding  Fort  Jackson,  they 
hove  in  sight  of  the  splendid  Union  fleet  waiting  to  receive 
them,  with  the  dear  old  flag  waving  its  beautiful  folds,  welcom- 
ing them  back  to  its  protection.  "  Never  before,"  said  one, "  did 
it  seem  so  dear."  Grateful  for  their  deliverance,  and  rejoicing  over 
their  exchange,  gazing  upon  it,  they  wept  profusely.  After  the 
commissioners  of  the  two  fleets,  Col.  Mulford  of  the  Union,  and 
Capt.  Hatch  of  the  Confederates,  had  a  short  interview,  an  ar- 
rangement was  agreed  upon,  and  the  rebel  boats  soon  sided  up 
to  the  Union  transports,  Star  of  the  South,  the  Crescent,  and 
the  New  York,  and  the  long-wished-for  exchange  began.  They 
first  stepped  on  the  Star  of  the  South,  the  "  receiving  ship," 
hence  to  the  New  York,  the  "  clothing  ship,"  where,  after  bath- 
ing, and  casting  off  their  lice  and  old  tattered  garments,  once 
very  valuable  to  them,  they  all  received  new  and  comfortable 
clothing.  Then  going  aboard  of  the  Crescent,  the  "  feeding 
ship,"  their  craving  appetites  were  once  more  satisfied,  with 
gratitude  inexpressible,  upon  a  good  army  meal.  "  What  a  feast 
it  was,"  exclaimed  one  half-starved  fellow;  and  "that  pint  of 
hot  coffee,"  to  them,  was  like  nectar.  They  were  one  of  the 
happiest  crowds  on  earth.  Rescued  from  an  untimely  grave, 
the  chilly  rains  of  autumn,  and  the  scorching  sun  of  summer, 
and  delivered  from  the  tyranny  of  Capt.  Wirz,  and  sailing  home- 
ward-bound under  the  glorious  stars  and  stripes,  language  fails 
to  express  their  gratitude  and  joy.  They  sung,  danced,  and 
rejoiced  exceedingly.  Those  too  feeble  to  participate  were  highly 
cheered  by  looking  on.  Getting  aboard  the  regular  transports, 
they  bade  a  final  farewell  to  Dixie,  and  sailed  for  Annapolis,  Md., 
where  they  were  joyfully  and  heartily  received  with  the  cheering 
strains  of  Hail  Columbia,  by  the  Marine  Band.  Thus  ended 
their  prison-life;  for  heart-rending  cruelties,  atrocious  barbarity, 


166  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  fiendish  tyranny,  unequalled  upon  the  face  of  the  earth. 
Receiving  two  months'  pay  and  a  commutation  for  rations,  all 
that  were  able  received  a  thirty  days'  furlough,  and  away  they 
went  in  haste  to  see  the  loved  ones  at  home.  This  exchange 
took  place  about  the  eighteenth  or  twentieth  of  November,  1864, 
at  Venus  Point,  near  Savannah,  on  the  Savannah  River,  Ga. 
Many  had  been  in  captivity  from  nine  to  fifteen  months.  What 
a  glorious  deliverance ! 

THE  DEPARTURE. 

After  many  warm,  earnest,  pathetic  appeals  to  the  Government 
in  behalf  of  the  prisoners  perishing  for  relief;  after  many  false 
promises  of  a  speedy  exchange  from  Capt.  Wirz ;  and  having 
so  often  realized  "  that  hope  deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick,"  at 
length  the  decree  "Let  my  people  go,"  went  forth,  and  the  heart- 
cheering  order,  "Be  ready  to  depart"  spread  throughout  the 
camp  like  wild  fire.  It  put  new  life  in  everybody.  All  are 
now  on  tiptoe  with  rejoicing;  and  overflowing  with  gratitude 
and  joy  upon  the  glorious  deliverance,  with  gushing  hearts  many 
exclaimed,  "Thank  God!  thank  God!"  and  began  to  fix  up, 
and  make  ready  to  depart.  Fooled  and  disappointed  so  often, 
soon  doubts  begin  to  rise  in  their  minds ;  and,  as  the  encouraging 
news  spread  throughout  the  camp,  the  anxious  inquiiy,  "Is  it 
so  ?  is  it  so  ? "  went  forth  from  many  a  throbbing  heart ;  and, 
as  it  met  with  a  speedy  respond,  "  Yes,  yes ! "  by  the  messenger, 
loud  shouts  of  joy  and  rejoicing  rose  in  quick  succession  from 
thousands  of  glad  hearts  — 

"  The  year  of  jubilee  is  come, 
Return,  ye  ransomed  sinners,  home!  " 

It  inspired  everybody  with  fresh  life  and  courage.  To  be 
delivered  from  Andersonville  was  almost  like  deliverance  from 
hell.  What  a  stir  throughout  the  camp  ;  what  a  shaking  among 
the  dry  bones !  Every  one  is  astir,  on  the  alert,  gathering  up  his 
few  things,  and  making  his  last  call  with  his  frail  comrades  too 
weak  to  go  !  (It  is  about  the  first  of  September,  1864.)  And  while 
all  this  excitement  and  preparation  to  leave  Andersonville  for  ex- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  167 

change  was  going  on,  many  are  just  exchanging  time  for  eternity. 
To  struggle  through  all  the  torments  of  Andersonville  up  to  the 
hour  of  exchange,  and  then  die,  seemed  unusually  hard.  But  it 
seemed  "  thus  it  must  be  !  "  (Matt.  xxvi.  54.)  Others  too  weak 
to  go,  it  seemed  hard  to  leave.  To  bid  a  final  farewell  to  a  dear 
comrade,  with  whom  they  had  so  long  shared  the  hardships  and 
horrors  of  war,  amid  such  awful  circumstances,  was  indeed 
trying ;  it  was  hard  for  those  going,  and  much  harder  for  those 
left.  A  hearty,  warm  sigh  and  a  gushing  tear,  a  good  wish  and 
a  hearty  "  May  God  bless  you ! "  was  all  they  could  do ;  and 
while  they  were  pronouncing  the  final  "farewell,"  the  cry,  "There 
they  go  ! "  flashed  across  the  camp,  and  thousands  of  the  heroic 
braves,  together  with  the  maimed,  halt,  and  blind,  were  seen 
marching  up  and  passing  that  gate  which  had  so  long  held  them 
in  captivity,  and  through  which  thirteen  thousand  brave  patriots 
brought  in  alive  had  been  carried  out  dead.  Farewell,  Anderson- 
ville; farewell,  thou  hell  of  earth  and  "plague-spot  of  creation!" 
let  thy  name  go  down  to  posterity  as  synonymous  with  cruelty, 
starvation,  atrocity,  death,  and  murder !  Thou  wilt  be  remem- 
bered only  with  the  saddest  associations.  The  awful  sufferings 
there  endured,  and  the  reproach,  gross  insult,  abuse,  and  vindic- 
tive revenge  there  poured  out  upon  the  brave  heroes  by  those 
malignant  rebels,  will  never  be  forgotten.  As  they  marched  out, 
they  were  divided  into  small  companies  of  sixty  each,  and  tot- 
tered over  to  the  depot,  the  stronger  supporting  the  weak.  With 
sixty  in  a  car  (freight-car),  with  a  little  corn-bread  and  rancid 
bacon  for  their  rations,  and  a  bucket  to  get  water,  away  they 
went  through  the  beautiful  scenes  of  Georgia.  Shut  up  so  long 
as  they  had  been,  the  green  trees,  beautiful  foliage,  thrifty  grass, 
and  fine  flowers,  and  the  pure  air,  to  them  appeared  most  lovely 
and  delightful.  By  sunset,  next  evening,  they  arrived  at  Au- 
gusta, where  they  were  detained  a  long  while,  and  were  much 
refreshed  through  the  great  kindness  of  the  generous  citizens, 
who  did  what  they  could  to  administer  to  their  wants  in  supply- 
ing them  with  good  water,  biscuits,  meat,  and  delicacies  for  the 
sick.  They  were  received  with  the  warmest  gratitude,  without 
knowing  whether  they  came  from  loyalists  or  disloyalists.  How 


168  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

very  striking  the  contrast  between  the  tyranny  and  cruelty  of 
Andersonville  and  the  warm  sympathy  and  kindness  of  Au- 
gusta !  Here  all  was  kindness  and  good-will,  there  all  was  hatred 
and  revenge ;  here  the  kind  people  labored  to  save  the  lives  of 
the  prisoners,  there  they  labored  to  destroy  them ;  here  they  were 
treated  like  men,  there  like  hogs  and  wild  beasts ! 

Here  our  captive  heroes  met  a  confederate  prisoner  from  the 
North  (from  Johnson's  Island),  who,  when  asked  by  our  men 
how  he  fared  while  a  prisoner,  promptly  replied,  "  Very  well,  in- 
deed, sir !  We  had  plenty  of  good  food,  and  vegetables  '  quite 
often ; ' "  and  to  compare  his  stout,  robust,  healthy  appearance 
with  our  half-starved,  pale,  feeble,  disheartened  men,  the  contrast 
was  most  striking.  The  next  day,  at  three  P.  M.,  they  arrived 
at  Charleston,  S.C.,  and,  to  their  great  surprise  and  most  sad 
disappointment,  they  ascertained  that  "  it  was  no  exchange  after 
all;  "it  was  only  a  hurried  remove  upon  the  sudden  anticipated 
approach  of  Sherman's  army.  And  again  they  felt  "that  hope 
deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick,"  and  sorrow  and  sadness  again 
filled  their  hearts.  Such  is  life  —  full  of  ups  and  downs;  and 
the  downs  are  often  greater  than  the  ups!  Here  the  fare  was 
hard,  but  far  superior  to  Andersonville ;  here  they  were  visited 
by  two  sisters  of  charity,  who  did  much  to  relieve  the  sufferings 
of  both  Catholics  and  Protestants.  Having  put  in  a  few  weeks 
at  Charleston,  they  were  taken  to  Florence  early  in  October. 
Here  the  suffering  and  barbarous  cruelties  were  about  equal  to 
Andersonville.  The  hospital  here  was  literally  awful.  To  see 
brave  soldiers,  the  heroes  of  a  hundred  battles,  lying  nigh  unto 
death,  with  no  beds  and  no  coverings,  and  turning  idiots  from 
suffering  and  starvation,  and  dying  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  a 
day  out  of  seven  hundred,  or  about  four  percentage,  was  horrible 
in  the  extreme.  But  at  last  the  day  of  deliverance  came,  and 
they  were  let  go  free. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  169 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ANDERSONVILLE   CEMETERY. 

CONTAINS  FIFTY  ACRES — THIRTEEN  THOUSAND  AND  SEVEN  HUNDRED 
AND  FIVE  GRAVES —  WHO  ARE  THE  DEAD?  —  WHAT  DID  THEY  SUF- 
FER?—How  DID  THEY  DIE?— As  THEY  LIVED  AND  FOUGHT  — 
THE  FIRST  PRISONERS  BURIED  THERE  —  THE  LAST  ONE  —  THE 
STARS  AND  STRIPES  WAVE  OVER  THEM  —  CAPTAIN  WIRZ  —  His 
BIRTH  —  ENTERING  THE  EEBEL  ARMY  —  PROMOTED  FOR  His  CRU- 
ELTY TO  THE  PRISONERS  —  PROVEN  GUILTY  OF  CONSPIRACY  AGAINST 
THE  UNITED  STATES  — "  I  WILL  GIVE  You  BULLETS  FOR  BREAD  "— 
HE  SHOT  A  PRISONER  — "On,  Do  LET  ME  DOWN  ! " — His  LAST  DAYS 

—  FOUND  GUILTY — KECEIVED  SENTENCE  TO  BE  HUNG  VERY  COOLLY 

—  ATTENDED  BY  THE  PRIEST  —  No  SIGNS  OF  SORROW  —  His  EXECU- 
TION—  HURRIES  TO  THE  GALLOWS  —  THE  CLOSING  SCENE. 

IN  a  well-selected  spot,  half  a  mile  north  of  the  prison  stock- 
ade, lie  the  heroic  martyrs  of  Anderson ville.  Containing  some 
fifty  acres  of  level  land  in  an  elevated  old  field,  surrounded  with 
dense  forests  of  pine,  and  lying  close  to  the  South-western  Rail- 
road, it  is  a  beautiful  situation.  Inclosed  with  a  white-washed 
picket  fence,  and  laid  off  in  four  sections,  with  streets  crossing  in 
the  centre,  it  presents  quite  a  neat  appearance.  Entering  at  the 
south  gate,  and  passing  up  the  main  street,  there  are  three  sec- 
tions of  graves  on  your  right,  of  about  three-quarters  of  an  acre 
each,  divided  by  two  alleys ;  and  on  your  left  are  two  more  of 
equal  size.  The  dead  all  lie  facing  to  the  east.  At  the  head  of 
every  grave  is  a  plain  head-board,  ten  inches  wide,  two  and  a 
half  feet  high,  painted  white,  with  the  prisoner's  name,  company, 
regiment,  and  date  of  death,  lettered  on  it  in  black.  The  dead 
lie  very  close  together  in  trenches  and  in  rows,  each  body  occu- 
pying only  fourteen  inches,  with  only  four  inches  between  the 
head-boards.  The  graves  are  finished  in  a  common  level,  and 
are  neatly  grassed  over. 

Who  are  the  dead?  whence  came  they?     From  almost  every 


170  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

State  in  the  Union  ;  but  chiefly  from  the  North.  There  they  lie, 
from  the  green  mountains  of  Vermont  to  the  golden  shores  of 
California  and  Oregon.  There  lie  the  uncoffined  bones  of  the 
dear  husband  of  many  a  crushed,  heart-broken  widow,  and  the 
precious  dust  of  many  patriotic  sons,  whose  weeping  mothers 
refuse  to  be  comforted,  because  they  are  not.  There  lie  thousands 
of  brave  veterans,  who,  at  the  tap  of  the  drum,  voluntarily  rushed 
to  the  defence  of  the  old  flag,  at  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion. 
The  heroes  of  one  hundred  battles,  they  were  a  part  of  the  very 
bone  and  sinew  of  the  army ;  not  bounty-jumpers,  but  noble, 
heroic,  patriotic  men,  who  fought,  suffered,  and  died ;  not  for 
mere  pay,  but  from  principle,  for  the  glory,  defence,  and  salvation 
of  the  country ;  not  stragglers,  but  soldiers  thirsting  for  victory, 
rushed  into  the  thickest  of  the  battle,  and  unfortunately  were 
captured,  and  dragged  into  the  slaughter-house  at  Andersonville. 

What  did  they  suffer  f  Tongue  cannot  tell ;  heart  cannot  con- 
ceive, and  language  cannot  describe  it.  The  severity  of  their 
sufferings  beggars  all  description ;  they  not  only  suffered  cruelty, 
hunger,  thirst,  starvation,  robbery,  torture,  death,  but  atrocious 
contumely,  dire  reproach,  and  fell  revenge  from  rebel  tyrants.  It 
was  proven  in  Capt.  Wirz's  trial,  that  some  ten  thousand  died 
from  torture,  neglect,  cruelty,  hunger,  and  want  maliciously  in- 
flicted ;  "  that  numbers  died  from  the  dead  being  left  too  long  in 
the  prison ;  that  numbers  died  from  wearing  the  ball  and  chain ; 
that  many  died  from  being  tied  up  by  the  thumbs,  and  from  tor- 
ture in  f  the  stocks ; '  that  a  number  were  shot  and  killed  upon 
the  dead-line ;  that  a  large  number  died  from  the  bite  of  ferocious 
dogs  or  bloodhounds,  and  from  poisonous  vaccination  ordered  by 
Capt.  Wirz;  "and,"  says  Col.  Chipman,  Judge  Advocate,  in  his 
closing  remarks  on  the  trial,  "  Capt.  Wirz  murdered  eighteen,  and 
one  died  from  his  jumping  upon,  stamping,  and  kicking  him." 

How  did  they  die  ?  Having  no  regular  spiritual  adviser  gener- 
ally, but  little  is  known  of  their  prospects,  or  preparation  for 
the  future.  A  number  "  made  perfect  through  suffering  "  gave 
bright  evidence  of  repentance  ;  for  whom  to  die  was  gain.  And 
from  the  patient  suffering,  calm  submission,  and  humble  resigna- 
tion, and  tine  patriotism  they  exhibited,  doubtless  many  hun- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  171 

dreds  of  them  died  happily,  and  have  gone  beyond  the  reach  of 
rebel  tyrants,  "  where  the  wicked  cease  to  trouble,  and  the  weary 
are  forever  at  rest."  The  first  prisoner  buried  there  was  J.  S. 
Warner,  Co.  H,  2d  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  died  Feb.  27,  1864.  The 
last  death  was  R.  Hanson,  Co.  F,  1st  Wis.,  died  April  28,  1865. 
The  exact  number  buried  there  is  13,065,  including  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  rebels  from  the  garrison,  and  sixty-five  who  died  from 
small-pox.  There  they  lie,  waiting  the  sound  of  the  last  trump 
summoning  them  to  judgment,  when  all  will  be  rewarded  strictly 
according  to  their  works. 

In  the  centre  of  this  vast  depository  of  the  patriotic  dead  is  to 
be  erected  a  suitable  monument  to  the  memory  of  these  heroic 
martyrs.  Let  it  rise.  They  most  richly  deserve  it.  Let  it  rise, 
that  it  may  tell  to  future  generations  the  patriotic  heroism,  the 
ardent  devotion,  patient  endurance,  and  unyielding  perseverance 
of  those  thirteen  thousand  heroic  martyrs. 

Again  we  say  let  it  rise,  and  engrave  upon  it  the  opprobri- 
ous name,  "  ANDERSONVILLE,"  that  it  may  tell  to  future  ages 
the  extreme  suffering,  the  despotic  tyranny,  the  gross  indignity, 
the  fierce  cruelty,  the  severe  punishment,  hunger,  want,  and 
starvation  endured  by  the  immortal  heroes  lying  beneath  it. 
Let  it  rise  of  material  lasting  as  time,  so  that  if  our  American 
patriotism  should  ever  grow  cold,  and  we  become  unmindful 
of  the  rich  boon  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  established  by 
the  blood  of  our  fathers,  and  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  half  a 
million  of  their  sons,  we  may  go  and  stand  around  the  graves 
of  these  departed  heroes;  that  we  may  think  of  the  horrible 
sufferings  they  endured,  and  of  the  awful  deaths  they  died, 
that  we  and  our  country  might  live ;  that  the  world  may  know 
that  man  is  capable  of  self-government,  and  that  all  men  are 
created  free  and  equal.  In  the  centre  of  this  large  depository  of 
the  lamented  dead  stands  a  flagstaff,  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
high,  from  which  the  stars  and  stripes  float  every  day.  Cared  for 
by  a  superintendent  appointed  by  the  Government,  who  keeps  two 
hands  employed  in  dressing  it,  the  cemetery  is  kept  in  good  order. 
A  few  marble  stones  have  been  placed  at  a  few  of  the  graves  by 


172  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

friends.     The  main  entrance  is  at  the  south ;  and  on  the  east  side 
of  the  gate  is  printed  in  large  capital  letters : 

NATIONAL  CEMETERY, 
ANDERSONVILLE. 

Opposite  these  words  are  inscribed  the  following  touching  lines : 

"On  Fame's  eternal  camping-ground 

Their  silent  tents  are  spread  ; 
And  Glory  guards  with  solemn  round 
The  bivouac  of  the  dead." 

A  little  farther  down  stand  the  following  graphic  words  : 

"  The  hopes,  the  fears,  the  blood,  the  tears, 

That  marked  the  bitter  strife, 
Are  now  all  covered  by  victory 
That  saved  the  nation's  life. 

"  A  thousand  battle-fields  have  drunk 

The  blood  of  warriors  brave : 
And  countless  homes  are  dark  and  drear 
Through  the  land  they  died  to  save." 

In  one  corner,  by  themselves,  lie  six  more  buried,  marked 
below  their  names  — "Hung,  July  12,  1864." 


CAPTAIN  WIRZ. 

And  now,  in  closing  those  wonderful  scenes  from  Anderson- 
ville,  the  reader  will  no  doubt  feel  anxious  to  hear  a  little  more 
about  the  perpetrator  of  those  awful  crimes  and  the  inflicter  of 
such  severe  punishments. 

Capt.  Henry  Wirz  was  born  of  respectable  parents,  in  Zurich, 
Switzerland,  Nov.  1823.  In  early  life  he  manifested  a  strong 
desire  to  study  medicine,  but,  his  father  objecting,  he  was  placed 
in  a  commercial  house  in  his  native  town.  Desiring  to  try  his 
luck  in  a  new  country,  he  came  to  the  United  States  in  1849, 
landing  at  New  York,  where  he  again  resumed  the  study  of 
medicine.  During  the  first  stages  of  secession,  Wirz  obtained 
some  notoriety  by  his  severe  denunciations  of  the  Federal  Govern- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  173 

ment,  and  declaring  his  warm  attachment  to  the  South.  But 
failing  to  get  a  commission  as  surgeon  in  the  rebel  army,  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  soldier  under  the  flag  of  treason.  But 
having  served  a  short  time  in  that  capacity,  and  being  of  a  cruel 
disposition,  and  possessing  the  requisite  qualifications  to  execute 
the  atrocious  designs  of  rebel  leaders  upon  our  prisoners,  he  was, 
early  in  the  war,  put  in  charge  of  Libby  Prison.  Here  the 
sergeant-major  soon  so  distinguished  himself  for  cruelty  and  bar- 
barity to  the  unfortunate  captives,  that  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  second  lieutenant.  In  the  spring  of  1862,  he  was  sent 
to  the  front,  while  Gen.  McClellan  was  bringing  to  bear  his 
battering-rams  upon  the  strongholds  of  Richmond,  and  receiving 
a  wound  in  the  arm,  by  the  stroke  of  a  fragment  of  a  shell  at 
the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  he  obtained  a  furlough  to  visit  his  native 
home  in  Europe.  After  having  spent  over  a  year  on  his  furlough, 
he  voluntarily  returned  to  the  United  States  in  the  spring  of 
1864.  Shortly  after  his  return,  he  was  ordered  to  assist  Gen. 
G.  H.  Winder  in  carrying  out  his  cruel  atrocities  perpe- 
trated upon  our  unfortunate  men  incarcerated  in  Andersonville. 
Here  he  was  again  promoted,  and  honored  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  Having  full  sway,  and  giving  loose  rein  to  his 
cruel,  bloodthirsty  disposition,  he  went  on  in  his  barbarous 
work  until  he  was  proven  guilty  of  confederating,  combining, 
and  conspiring  with  Jefferson  Davis,  Howell  Cobb,  and  others, 
in  leagued  rebellion  against  the  United  States;  and  that  he  did 
maliciously  and  traitorously,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  war,  so 
cruelly  neglect  and  treat  some  ten  thousand  Union  prisoners 
under  his  care  in  Andersonville,  that  they  died  from  hunger, 
torture,  cruelty,  and  want.  What  a  long  black  catalogue  of 
crimes !  How  deeply  seared  must  have  been  the  conscience,  and 
how  awfully  hard  must  have  been  the  heart,  of  the  atrocious 
perpetrator !  Before  such  monstrous  iniquity,  the  sensitive  heart 
recoils  and  humanity  shudders.  Such  heights  and  depths  of 
deep,  double-distilled  wickedness  are  seldom,  if  ever,  equalled. 
On  a  certain  occasion,  when  a  poor  starved  soldier  asked  Capt. 
Wirz  for  a  little  more  bread,  the  hard-hearted  tyrant  contemptu- 
ously  replied,  "  1  will  give  you  builds  for  bread"  On  another 


174  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

occasion  a  frail,  prostrated  sufferer  mildly  asked  permission  of 
the  unmerciful  captain  to  go  out  to  get  fresh  air,  when  "Wirz  in- 
dignantly replied,  "  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  drew  out  his  revolver 
from  his  pocket,  and  shot  him  down.  He  died  in  two  or  three 
hours  after,  watering  the  tree  of  liberty  with  his  patriotic  blood. 

The  prison  punishments  were  all  most  cruelly  severe.  The 
idea  of  mercy  or  kindness  seemed  never  to  have  entered  the 
hearts  of  those  unrelenting  tormentors.  For  a  prisoner  to  at- 
tempt to  escape  was  almost  always  certain  death.  The  fact  is, 
the  institution  was  got  up,  and  kept  up,  to  weary,  abuse,  starve, 
and  destroy  Union  prisoners.  Capt.  W.  S.  Winder  said,  when 
he  was  laying  out  the  stockade,  " I  am  going  to  ^build  a  pen  here 
that  will  kill  more  Yankees  than  can  be  destroyed  at  the  front." 
And  Capt..  Wirz  said  to  the  Union  men  who  were  burying  the 
dead,  "  This  is  the  way  I  give  the  Yankees  the  land  they  come 
to  fight  for."  What  deep-seated  malevolence  and  murderous 
revenge  underlies  such  devilish  expressions !  Wirz  often  told 
the  prisoners  "  that  he  intended  to  destroy  them." 

"On  passing  by  the  guard-house,  one  day,"  says  Major  Kellog, 
"  I  heard  a  most  pitiable,  distressing  outcry ;  and  upon  looking 
around,  I  saw  a  prisoner,  who  for  attempting  to  escape  had  been 
brought  back  and  strung  up  by  the  thumbs  to  the  beam  of  the 
guard-house,  paying  the  unrighteous  penalty  of  honorably  attempt- 
ing to  flee  from  impending  starvation  and  death.  And  there, 
swinging  in  the  air,  with  his  body  roasted  with  pain  and  a  soul 
writhing  in  anguish,  in  the  most  compassionate,  pitiable  manner, 
he  begged  with  his  cruel  tormentors  for  mercy.  Hanging  there 
with  the  ruthless  cords  tightening  around  his  swollen  thumbs, 
he  exclaimed,  in  the  most  heart-rending  manner,  'Oh,  for 
God's  sake,  have  mercy  on  me;  oh,  do  let  me  down.  Oh, 
mercy,  mercy,  mercy  ! }  But,  alas !  he  begged  without  mercy." 
There  he  hung.  Oh,  how  awful !  Humanity  shudders  at  the 
horrible  cruelty.  A  wicked  world  gaze  and  look  on  with 
astonishment,  and  in  summing  up  this  double-distilled  cruelty, 
atrocious  torture,  fell  revenge,  and  fiendish  murder,  it  would 
seem  that  God  had  withdrawn  all  restraining  grace,  and  that 
Satan  had  poured  forth  his  bitterest  vials  of  wrath  to  fire  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  175 

malicious  heart  of  Wirz  to  perpetrate  those  most  damnable 
deeds,  that  the  world  might  see  how  low  and  deep  the  depraved 
heart  is  capable  of  sinking  in  iniquity.  And  yet,  doubtless,  as 
this  monster  of  iniquity  was  only  a  tool  in  the  hands  of  higher 
officers,  his  crimes  must  be  small  when  compared  with  theirs. 

THE  LAST  DAYS  OF  WIRZ. 

After  the  fall  of  Richmond  and  the  surrender  of  Johnston  to 
Sherman,  when  bloody  treason  was  lying  low  in  the  dust,  and 
the  shouts  of  victory  gushing  from  every  loyal  heart  throughout 
the  land,  Wirz  endeavored  to  flee  the  country ;  but  was  arrested, 
and  brought  back  to  Washington,  and  confined  in  prison  to  await 
his  trial  for  his  numberless  deeds  of  cruelty  and  murder. 

After  the  assassins  of  Abraham  Lincoln  were  executed,  charges 
and  specifications  were  brought  against  this  monster  of  iniquity, 
and  a  military  court  was  convened,  and  the  guilty  tyrant  was 
made  to  look  at  himself  in  the  eyes  of  the  law  and  justice.  He 
took  a  deep  interest  in  the  trial,  and  closely  watched  every  move- 
ment and  every  word  of  testimony  brought  against  him.  The 
trial,  though  long  and  tedious,  was  at  length  closed ;  the  plead- 
ings heard,  the  testimony  canvassed,  and  the  sentence,  "  guilty," 
brought  in;  and  on  the  sixth  of  November,  1865,  he  was  in- 
formed by  Gen.  Winder  that  he  was  sentenced  to  be  hung  on 
Friday  the  tenth.  Wirz  received  his  sentence  with  remarkable 
coolness  and  with  great  unconcern,  remarking  only,  "  Well,  I 
suppose  it  must  be  done ; "  and  with  a  stern  indifference  he  went 
immediately  to  the  door  of  his  cell,  and  announced  the  fact  to 
Gen.  Briscoe,  who  was  occupying  the  opposite  side  of  the  cell,  in 
the  following  words  :  "  General,  I  am  to  be  hung  on  Friday ! " 
And  as  Gen.  Augur  was  retiring  from  the  cell,  he  said,  "  After 
I  am  dead  and  gone,  I  will  come  back  and  haunt  you  all." 

Being  a  Roman  Catholic,  a  priest  was  sent  for  to  administer  to 
his  spiritual  wants,  and  warn  and  entreat  him  to  prepare  for 
death.  And,  notwithstanding  his  enormous  sins,  his  historian 
sayp  he  gave  no  marks  of  sorrow  or  contrition  for  his  iniquitous 
crimes.  Scoffing  at  the  Federal  Government  to  the  last,  on  the 


176  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

night  before  his  execution  he  said  "  the  American  Eagle  was  a 
turkey  buzzard."  Undisturbed  about  his  approaching  end,  he 
slept  soundly  the  last  night  of  his  life,  until  he  was  aroused  at 
three  o'clock  by  his  spiritual  comforters,  to  pray  with  and  for 
him,  and  beseech  him  to  prepare  for  the  solemn  scene.  He  lis- 
tened to  their  prayers,  but,  insisting  on  his  innocence,  manifested 
no  signs  of  forgiveness. 

Touching  his  personal  appearance,  wearing  a  dark  complexion, 
Wirz  was  a  man  of  about  five  feet  ten  inches  high,  "  of  a  thin, 
spare  figure,"  with  black  hair,  beard  and  mustache  mixed  with 
gray.  Dressed  in  black,  with  an  old  silk  hat,  he  presented,  during 
the  trial,  a  rather  shabby,  genteel  appearance. 

THE   EXECUTION. 

At  length  the  day  of  execution  dawns.  On  the  morning  of 
the  tenth  of  November,  with  the  preparations  at  the  gallows  all 
completed,  fifteen  minutes  before  ten  the  doomed  man  was  led 
out  of  his  cell,  supported  by  Fathers  Doyle  and  Wiget.  And 
although  he  manifested  no  regret  for  his  crimes  nor  sorrow  for 
his  sins,  yet,  realizing  the  stern  laws  of  retribution  beginning  to 
play  upon  him,  he  now  begins  to  feel  that  the  way  of  the  trans- 
gressor is  hard.  And  wrapped  in  a  black  robe,  carrying  his  right 
arm  in  a  sling,  with  hands  and  feet  unmanacled,  with  a  light, 
careless  step  he  made  haste  to  the  gallows  and  ran  up  the  steps, 
and  sat  down  upon  a  chair,  sitting  upon  the  deadly  drop,  over 
which  hung  the  fatal  noose  dangling  in  the  air,  ready  to  crush 
the  forfeited  life  lingering  in  "the  demon  of  Andersonville." 
Guarded  by  a  battalion  of  soldiers,  formed  into  a  hollow 
square,  there  he  sits,  hanging  upon  the  verge  of  the  eternal 
world,  just  running  his  last  sands.  With  death  standing  out 
before  him,  and  the  grave  yawning  to  receive  him,  there  he  sits, 
wrapped  in  the  hardness  of  his  own  insensibility.  Major  Russell, 
taking  his  station  directly  opposite  the  gallows,  read  aloud  the 
charge,  specifications,  and  the  sentence.  Wirz  listened  atten- 
tively, but  shook  his  head  with  an  occasional  smile,  without  a 
ray  of  sorrow  or  remorse  flashing  from  his  stern  brow.  At  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  177 

close  of  the  reading,  he  was  asked  if  he  had  anything  to  say.  He 
replied,  "  No ;  I  have  nothing  to  say  to  the  public."  After  a 
silent  whisper  and  parting  exhortation  of  the  priest,  the  black 
cap  being  drawn  over  his  face,  he  was  requested  to  stand  up,  and 
the  rope  was  adjusted  around  his  neck,  and  his  hands  and  feet 
bound  with  cords.  And  now  the  fatal  hour  draws  nigh.  At 
twenty  minutes  past  ten,  the  commanding  officer  gave  the  signal, 
and  Capt.  Henry  Wirz  hangs  suspended  between  heaven  and 
earth.  The  roofs  of  the  surrounding  houses  were  crowded  with 
spectators,  anxiously  gazing  upon  the  solemn  scene;  and,  at  the 
fall  of  the  fatal  drop,  a  loud  yell  rose  from  the  crowd  without. 
After  a  few  convulsive  jerks,  the  soul  of  Wirz  winged  its  flight 
to  the  eternal  world,  and  the  tragic  scene  closed.  At  seven  o'clock 
his  body  was  taken  down,  examined  by  the  attending  physician, 
and  officially  pronounced  dead.  The  corpse  was  placed  in  a 
coffin,  and  delivered  into  the  hands  of  Father  Boyle,  and  the 
excited  crowd  dispersed. 
12 


178  CHEISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

SKETCHES   OF   SOLDIERS. 

"MY  HEART  is  so  HARD,  I  CAN'T  PRAY"  —  CONVERTED  ON  THE 
FIELD  OF  BATTLE  — "I  WENT  TO  CHURCH  CURSING,  AND  CAME 
AWAY  PRAYING "  —  "I  CAN'T  GET  EELIGION "  —  "I  CAN'T  HELP 
BUT  PRAY"  —  A  HERO  OF  ANDERSONVILLE  SAVED  BY  His  WIFE 
—  A  BOAT -LOAD  OF  ANDERSONVILLE  PRISONERS  —  "  CONVERTED 
ON  PICKET  BY  Two  MEN  TALKING  TO  ME"  —  "I  AM  KESOLVED 
TO  QUIT  SWEARING"  —  DIED  CALLING  FOR  THE  CHAPLAIN  TO 
PRAY  FOR  HIM  —  "I  AM  EEADY  TO  DIE"  —  "TELL  THEM  I  AM 
HAPPY"  —  "CONVERTED  THROUGH  A  SISTER'S  LETTERS"  —  "Ir  I 
GO  TO  HELL,  I  WILL  GO  PRAYING  " — "  PRAYER  is  A  GREAT  PRIV- 
ILEGE"—  "OH,  THAT  I  HAD  VENTURED  BEFORE!"  —  "I  AM 

GUILTY  OF  EVERYTHING  BUT  THEFT  AND  MURDER"  — "I  EXPECT 
TO  GET  RELIGION  WHEN  I  GET  HOME  "  —  BLEEDING  TO  DEATH, 
YET  "RESTING  ON  CHRIST"— "PRAYING  FOR  SPORT"  —  "I  GAVE 
MY  HEART  TO  JESUS" — "CHRIST  is  EVERYTHING  TO  ME"  — 
"MY  SINS  ARE  GREAT  AND  HEAVY"  —  "SATAN  is  OFTEN  AT  MY 
HEELS  "  —  JAMES  WARD,  81sT  N.Y.,  Co.  I  —  A  SOLDIER'S  CREED  — 
"I  SEE  so  MUCH  BAD  CHRISTIANITY,  I  AM  DISCOURAGED"  — 
"JESUS  is  STILL  PRECIOUS"  —  "I  STILL  HOLD  ON  TO  GOD"  —  "I 
PRAY  MUCH  IN  BATTLE  "  —  A  SOLDIER  WITH  SEVEN  WOUNDS  — 
"  I  CAN  AFFORD  TO  SUFFER  "  —  A  HAPPY,  SHOUTING  SOLDIER  — 
"I  WOULD  LIKE  TO  BE  A  CHRISTIAN,  IF  I  COULD  KEEP  IT" — 
"I  CAN'T  LIVE  WITHOUT  PRAYER"—  "THE  LORD  is  MINE" — "I 
CAN'T  PRAY" — "I  FOUND  JESUS"— "I  LEAVE  IT  ALL  WITH  THE 
LORD"  — A  SWEARER  BROUGHT  TO  TEARS. 


"  MY  HEART  IS  SO  HARD,  I  CAN'T  PRAY." 

JOSEPH  P.  NICHOLS,  39th  111.  Vol.,  Co.  K,  was  severely 
wounded  in  one  of  the  last  battles  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  and 
was  soon  after  brought  to  Hampton  Hospital.  His  wound  soon 
became  gangrened,  and  he  was  taken  to  the  Gangrene  Camp. 
At  first  we  found  him  a  profane,  prayerless  sinner,  and  yet  honest 
and  frank  to  confess  it.  Said  he  "  had  been  a  Methodist,  but  had 
wofully  backslid."  He  said,  "  I  have  been  a  great  swearer.  I 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  179 

have  sworn  to  such  an  extent  that  I  am  ashamed  of  it."  "  We 
are  very  glad  to  hear  you  confess  your  sins,  and  your  shame  for 
swearing.  And  are  .you  sorry  for  it  now,  Joseph  ?  "  "  Yes,  I 
feel  sorry ;  but  not  as  I  ought  to."  I  preached  to  him ;  pointed 
him  to  Christ ;  told  him  of  his  love  and  compassion ;  that  he 
waits  to  be  gracious  ;  that  he  is  "  able  and  willing  to  save,  even 
to  the  uttermost ; "  and  urged  him  to  repent,  and  come  to  him. 
He  became  very  anxious ;  and  as  I  urged  him  to  pray  and  to  turn 
his  oaths  into  prayers,  he  said,  with  deep  emotion  and  tears, 
"  My  heart  is  so  hard,  I  can't  pray."  I  told  him  to  "  tell  the 
Lord  so ; "  to  go  to  God  with  his  hard  heart,  and  he  would 
soften  and  change  it.  He  now  seemed  to  feel  deeply  the  great- 
ness of  his  sins ;  and  as  I  urged  him  to  pray,  and  throw  himself 
right  into  the  arms  of  Jesus,  he  cried,  with  eyes  filled  with  tears, 
"  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  ! "  "  Lord,  save,  or  I  perish !  " 
Thus,  with  his  soul  stirred,  pleading  and  begging  for  mercy,  we  left 
him,  and  made  special  prayers  for  him  that  night  at  the  public 
service,  and  ere  the  sun  set  on  the  nineteenth  of  May,  1865,  he 
closed  his  eyes  in  death.  Gone,  we  trust,  to  reap  his  reward  in 
heaven.  Let  backsliders  be  warned,  and  take  care.  "  Return 
unto  me,  and  I  will  return  unto  you,  saith  the  Lord." 

CONVERTED  ON  THE   FIELD  OF  BATTLE. 

" Good-morning,  Henry  !  how  do  you  do  to-day ?  "  "I  am 
somewhat  better  to-day,  I  thank  you,  chaplain."  "  Very  glad  to  see 
you  so  well.  How  are  you  spiritually?  "  "  Well,  I  have  been 
a  very  great  sinner ;  but  I  believe,  now,  God  has  converted  my 
soul  and  forgiven  my  sins."  "Where  do  you  think  you  were 
converted  ?  "  "  In  the  battle  of  Hatcher's  Run.  There,  amidst 
the  shock  of  battle,  I  saw  so  many  falling  around  me,  and  think- 
ing how  soon  it  might  be  my  turn,  and  what  an  awful  thing  it 
would  be  to  die  for  my  country,  and  lose  my  own  soul ;  there, 
with  balls  and  bullets  whistling  close  by  me,  and  shells  bursting 
around  me,  together  with  the  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying, 
I  cried  to  God  for  mercy ;  and  there,  I  believe,  he  changed  my 
heart."  "  Did  you  feel  afraid  in  battle  ?  "  "  No,  not  much ;  we 


180  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

never  expect  to  get  hit.  I  felt  anxious  about  my  soul ;  my  sins 
rose  up  before  me,  and  seemed  to  be  very  great.  The  battle 
raged.  '  On  we  went,  giving  it  to  the  rebels  hot  and  heavy ; '  but 
I  kept  on  praying,  '  Lord,  have  mercy,  and  save  me ! '  We 
drove  the  rebels,  and  gained  a  glorious  victory."  "  But  I  sup- 
pose your  greatest  victory  was  a  victory  over  Satan."  "  I  'spose 
it  was."  "  Satan  has  a  very  strong  fort  in  every  sinner's  heart, 
and  to  storm  and  take  that  fort  requires  nothing  less  than  the 
omnipotent  power  of  God.  And  you  still  think  you  were  con- 
verted, then,  during  that  battle?"  "Yes,  I  believe  I  was." 
"  Do  you  now  feel  like  holding  fast,  and  going  on  in  the  Lord's 
service  ?  "  "  Yes,  I  do ;  by  the  grace  of  God  I  will  try,  and  be 
faithful  till  death."  "  Do  you  pray  often  now,  Henry  ?  "  "  Yes, 
I  pray  two  or  three  times  a  day."  "  When  did  you  begin  to 
pray  ?  "  "  While  we  were  at  Petersburg."  "  May  God  bless 
you,  Henry.  Cling  to  the  cross ;  trust  in  the  Lord  ;  and  all  will 
be  well ! "  It  was  Henry  McElvain,  118th  U.  S.,  Co.  A. 

» I  WENT  TO  CHURCH  CURSING,  AND  CAME  AWAY  PRAYING. " 

Upon  canvassing  the  heart  of  HENRY  FERGUSON,  39th  111., 
Co.  E,  we  soon  saw  that  he  bore  marks  of  the  new  creature. 
The  pleasing  smile  upon  his  countenance  bore  evidence  that  the 
image  of  God  had  been  enstamped  upon  his  heart.  And  upon 
further  inquiry,  he  said,  "  I  have  a  hope  that  I  would  not  ex- 
change for  the  world."  "  Do  you  think  you  are  a  converted 
man  ?  "  "  Yes,  I  believe  that  I  am."  "  When  do  you  think 
you  were  converted  ?  "  "  About  fifteen  months  ago."  "  Where  ?  " 
"  In  church.  I  went  to  church  cursing,  and  came  away  praying. 
While  there,  I  was  deeply  convicted  and  smitten  down.  My 
sins  rose  like  mountains  before  me,  and  I  felt  very  unhappy  and 
awful.  I  thought  I  saw  the  devil,  that  he  was  all  black  and 
dreadful.  The  encouraging  promise,  '  Resist  the  devil,  and  he 
will  flee  from  you/  rushed  to  my  mind ;  and  all  of  a  sudden 
light  dawned  upon  my  mind,  and  I  began  to  pray  to  God  for 
mercy ;  and  all  at  once  a  feeling  of  joy  came  over  me,  and  I  fel* 
glory  in  my  soul."  "  How  have  you  lived  since  ?  "  "T.  still 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  181 

trust  in  the  Lord  and  try  to  be  faithful,  and  I  feel  happy  ever 
since.  I  have  no  fear  of  death."  "  How  does  the  Saviour  ap- 
pear to  you  ?  "  "  Dear  and  precious ;  he  has  done  great  things 
for  me."  "  Do  you  still  pray  daily  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  read  my  Testa- 
ment, and  pray  two  or  three  times  every  day."  "  Do  you  ever 
feel  like  swearing  now?"  " No;  swearing  never  comes  into  my 
mind  now."  "  Be  faithful.  War  a  good  warfare.  Watch  and 
pray,  and  may  God  abundantly  bless  you."  From  the  example 
of  Henry,  let  the  wicked  and  profane  be  encouraged  to  go  to 
church.  Men  often  receive  a  blessing  when  they  don't  expect  it. 
A  man  once  went  to  hear  John  Wesley  preach,  with  a  stone  in 
his  pocket  to  break  his  head,  but  his  sermon  broke  his  heart,  and 
resulted  in  his  conversion. 


"I  CAN'T  GET  RELIGION." 

As  I  approached  HENRY  W.  CHASE,  96th  N.  Y.,  Co.  H,  he 
wept  profusely,  and  exhibited  distress  and  deep  anxiety  of  mind. 
I  said  to  him,  "Do  you  want  anything?"  "No.  I  can't  get 
religion"  "Would  you  like  to  have  it?"  "Yes,"  he  said. 
"  Oh,  yes,"  trembling,  and  weeping  with  deepest  emotions.  "  I 
am  glad  to  see  you  so  anxious.  Salvation  is  free  —  free  as  the 
air  you  breathe.  Jesus  says,  '  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come 
unto  me,  and  drink.  Ho  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come;  and 
whosoever  will,  let  him  come  and  take  of  the  waters  of  life  freely.' 
What  hinders  you  from  getting  religion  ? "  "  Pride,  and  my 
hard  heart,"  he  said,  weeping  most  bitterly.  Oh,  how  I  felt 
and  prayed  for  him.  Jesus,  thou  son  of  David,  have  mercy  on 
him.  "Do  you  feel  sorry  for  your  sins?"  "Yes;  but  I  fear 
God  has  not  forgiven  them."  "  Do  your  sins  seem  to  be  great?" 
"  Yes,  very  great."  "  The  blood  of  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin. 
Look  and  live.  Only  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou 
shalt  be  saved.  Just  come  to  Christ  now.  Throw  yourself  right 
into  his  arms,  and  he  will  save  you.  Come  just  as  you  are.  Don't 
wait  to  get  better.  There  is  no  work  to  be  done ;  no  preparation 
to  be  made  to  go  to  Jesus.  No,  all  things  are  now  ready ;  come 
and  be  saved."  I  preached  occasionally  to  him  and  his  ward, 


182  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAK. 

and  warned  them  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come,  fly  to  Jesus,  and 
cling  to  the  cross.  He  grew  worse,  and  the  ward-master  gave 
him  up  to  die.  How  interesting  the  scene.  Gather  round  and 
gaze  upon  the  brave,  lovely  boy  as  he  lies  upon  his  bed,  with  one 
leg  off  above  the  knee ;  with  a  fine  countenance  and  a  pale  face, 
there  he  lies,  bathed  in  tears,  weeping  for  his  sins,  and  pleading 
for  salvation.  Calling  on  him  a  few  days  after,  he  said,  weeping, 
"  I  have  not  found  the  Saviour  yet."  "  Oh,  Henry,  are  you 
willing  to  die  for  your  country,  and  die  and  be  lost?  Only  think 
of  the  love  of  Christ.  View  him  in  Bethlehem.  View  him 
in  Gethsemane,  agonizing  for  our  salvation.  View  him  on 
Calvary,  groaning,  bleeding,  dying,  that  we,  that  you,  might  have 
eternal  life.  And  will  you,  CAN  you  refuse  such  a  Saviour? 
Having  sealed  your  heroic  devotion  to  your  country  with  your 
blood,  now  only  look  to  Jesus,  and  he  will  seal  the  salvation  of 
your  soul  with  his  blood.  Step  right  out  upon  the  promises  of 
God}  and  grasp  Christ  by  the  hand  of  faith,  and  salvation  is 
yours.  Look  away  from  your  wound ;  look  only  to  Christ,  and 
he  will  break  and  melt  your  hard  heart,  and  give  you  a  new  one. 
Jesus  cries  to  you  in  tones  of  love  and  mercy.  '  My  son,  my  son, 
give  me  thy  heart/  Remember,  my  dear  friend,  you  must  sur- 
render or  be  lost ;  you  must  repent  or  perish  ;  turn  or  die.  Jesus 
cries,  '  How  often  would  I  have  gathered  you,  and  will  you  not 
come?'  May  God  help  and  bless  you."  He  suffered  long,  and 
bore  it  all  very  patiently.  Not  a  murmur  fell  from  his  lips.  At 
ray  next  call  his  wound  was  better,  and  he  was  indulging  a  hope, 
and  said,  "  Prospects  are  brighter."  "  Do  you  still  pray,  Henry?" 
"  Yes,  I  pray  very  often."  At  our  next  call  we  found  him  still 
more  encouraged,  and  he  said,  "  I  think  now  I  have  found  the 
Saviour,  and  God  has  forgiven  my  sins.  Christ  seems  precious 
now.  My  sins  before  seemed  heavy,  now  they  seem  light."  He 
wept.  I  wrote  to  his  father :  he  came.  Henry  got  well,  and 
went  home. 

"I  CAN'T  HELP  BUT  PRAY."  "I  GO  FORWARD." 

On  canvassing  the  heart  of  JOSEPH  SMITH,  38th  U.S.,  Co.  I, 
we  soon  found  him  evidently  a  devoted  Christian,  and  seemed  to 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  183 

}>e  filled  with  the  Spirit.  "  I  suppose  you  think  and  meditate  much 
about  the  Saviour?"  "  Yes,  I  think  on  God  all  the  time."  "  Do 
you  pray  much  ?  "  "  Yes,  I  prays  very  much :  I  can't  help  it." 
"Can't  you  help  it?"  "  No  ;"  pointing  to  his  breast,  he  said, 
"  there  is  something  within  me  that  draws  me  to  the  throne  of 
grace."  "  What  is  it?  "  "  I  suppose  it  is  the  Spirit  of  God  that 
prompts  me  to  it,  or  the  love  of  Christ  drawing  me."  "  Do  you 
love  Jesus  ? "  "  Yes,  I  loves  him ;  and  he  is  very  dear  and 
precious  to  me."  "  Do  you  find  it  difficult  to  live  out  religion 
in  the  army  ?  "  "  No  ;  God  is  the  same  in  the  army  as  he  is  at 
home."  "You  don't  backslide,  then  ?"  "No;  I  go  forward, 
and  still  keep  trying  to  do  my  duty  to  God  and  my  country,  and 
God  helps  and  blesses  me."  "Be  faithful,  Joseph;  live  near  to 
God,  and  cling  to  the  cross."  Reader,  if  you  would  reach  that 
high  Christian  attainment,  where  you  "can't  help  but  pray," 
"think  on  God  all  the  time!  "  To  the  devoted  Christian,  prayer 
is  no  task.  No ;  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  constrained 
by  the  love  of  Christ,  "  he  can't  help  but  pray  !  " 

A  HERO  OF  ANDERSONVILLE  SAVED  BY  HIS  WIFE. 

PHILIP  H ARTEL,  51st  Pa.  Vol.,  Co.  I,  an  exchanged  prisoner 
from  Anderson ville,  was  brought  here  from  Wilmington,  N.  C., 
April  2,  1865.  When  he  came  in,  he  was  completely  run  down 
with  chronic  diarrhoea  and  starvation  to  a  mere  skeleton.  He 
looked  like  death,  and  for  a  long  time  we  despaired  of  his  life ; 
but  with  kind  treatment  he  got  along.  We  preached  to  him  and 
his  ward  of  prisoners,  and  tried  to  comfort  them  with  the  con- 
solations of  the  gospel,  and  besought  them,  by  the  mercies  of 
God,  to  trust  in  Christ  and  cling  to  the  cross.  He  belonged  to 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  seemed  to  be  an  humble,  meek,  good 
Christian  soldier,  looking  to  God  for  help  and  strength.  Per- 
fectly resigned,  not  a  complaint  or  murmur  fell  from  his  lips. 
He  said,  "  I  hope  and  trust,  if  God  willing,  to  get  home  and  see 
my  wife  and  child  (eight  years  old)."  He  gained  a  little,  and  in 
a  few  days  his  good  wife  came  and  tenderly  and  most  faithfully 
uursed  him;  and,  after  a  good  while,  he  got  well  enough  to  go 


184  CHEISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAK. 

home.     But  it  seemed  like  life  from  the  dead.     I  believe  his 
faithful  wife,  under  God,  saved  his  life. 

A  BOAT-LOAD  OF  ANDERSONVILLE  PRISONERS. 

One  hundred  and  sixty  were  brought  in  April  2,  1865,  from 
Wilmington,  N.  C.  They  had  been  at  Florence  and  Ander- 
sonville,  and  many  of  them  were  reduced  to  mere  skeletons  from 
disease  and  starvation.  Although  they  had  spent  a  few  days  at 
Wilmington,  and  recruited  up  considerably,  yet  some  of  them 
seemed  to  look  more  like  dead  men  than  living  ones — with  hair 
dishevelled,  ghastly  eyes,  faces  pale,  and  nothing  but  skin  and 
bones,  they  looked  like  living  corpses.  A  great  many  died  at 
Wilmington.  Many  of  them  died  here  in  the  wards  after  linger- 
ing a  few  days. 

"CONVERTED  ON  PICKET  BY  TWO  MEN  TALKING  TO  ME." 

Upon  conversing  with  THEODORE  BRADLY,  7th  Conn.,  Co.  H, 
we  soon  found  him  indulging  a  good  hope.  After  a  short  con- 
versation about  religion,  and  the  trials  and  temptations  of  army 
life,  I  asked  him  if  he  was  an  old  soldier  of  the  cross.  "  No," 
he  said.  "  I  was  converted  by  two  men  talking  to  me  one  night 
on  picket  at  Bermuda  Hundred."  "  What  did  they  talk  to  you 
about  ?  "  "  About  Jesus  Christ  and  the  way  of  salvation,  and  the 
awful  danger  of  living  in  the  army  without  religion."  "  Did  they 
urge  you  to  repentance,  and  beseech  you  to  come  to  the  Saviour?  " 
"Yes;  they  talked  to  me  in  an  earnest,  humble,  simple  manner, 
and  urged  me  to  become  a  Christian."  "  How  had  you  lived 
before  that  time?  "  "  Careless  and  indifferent :  I  went  to  church 
at  home,  but  felt  no  particular  interest  in  religion."  "  Have  you 
ever  read  the  Bible  much  ? "  "  Yes,  considerable  :  I  went  to 
Sunday-school  at  home."  "  Do  you  feel  sorry  for  your  sins, 
now  ?  "  "  Yes."  "  How  do  your  sins  appear  to  you  ?  "  "  They 
appear  great;  but  I  believe  God  has  forgiven  them."  "And  you 
still  believe  you  were  converted  there  that  night  on  picket?" 
"Yes,  I  believe  I  was.  I  still  trust  in  Christ,  and  I  pray 
daily.  Yes,  there,  standing  between  two  mighty  armies,  exposed 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  185 

to  death  from  the  rebel  sharpshooter,  I  believe  God  changed  my 
heart  and  washed  my  soul.  Now,  if  I  know  my  own  heart,  I 
feel  prepared  to  go  whenever  God  calls."  "  God  is  everywhere, 
and  can  as  easily  convert  a  sinner  on  picket  as  in  the  church. 
Oh,  how  important  to  talk  about  religion,  and  thus  hold  up  the 
cross  to  a  dying  world !  f  Hear,  O  Israel ;  the  Lord  our  God  is 
one  Lord ;  and  these  words  shall  be  in  thy  heart ;  and  thou  shalt 
talk  of  them  when  thou  sittest  in  thy  house,  when  thou  walkest 
by  the  way,  when  thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up/ 
(Deut.  vi.  4,  6, 7.)  '  Talk  ye  of  all  his  wondrous  works.'  (Psalm 
cv.  2.)  How  lamentable  that  we  talk  so  little  about  religion ! 
How  very  common  in  the  social  circle,  to  hear  Christians  talk  all 
over  the  world,  and  talk  all  around  the  cross,  and  never  utter  a 
word  for  Jesus.  Of  old,  it  was  written,  '  They  that  feared  the 
Lord,  spake  often  to  one  another/  " 

"I  AM  RESOLVED  TO  QUIT  SWEARING." 

GEORGE  H.  TRACK,  6th  Conn.,  Co.  K,  was  severely  wounded 
at  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  where  our  men  did  such  brave  fight- 
ing. Upon  my  grasping  him  by  the  hand,  and  trying  to  lead 
him  to  the  cross,  he  wept  most  profusely,  and  seemed  to  feel  his 
sins  very  deeply,  and  appeared  to  be  very  penitent,  hopeful,  and 
anxious.  " Do  you  pray?"  "  Yes ;  and  I  have  resolved  to  quit 
swearing."  "  May  God  bless  you  richly.  Think  you  can  quit 
it?"  "Yes,  I  think  I  can."  "I  know  you  can,  if  you  will. 
Have  you  sworn  any  since  you  resolved  to  quit  it  ?  "  "  No,  not 
an  oath."  To  see  the  big  tears  rushing  to  his  eyes  and  rolling 
down  his  cheeks  encouraged  us  to  talk  and  pray  with  him.  After 
singing  a  beautiful  hymn,  and  commending  him  to  the  God  of 
all  comfort,  we  bade  him  good-by,  and  left  him.  Eeader,  if  you 
swear,  resolve  to  quit  it,  and  you  can.  Remember  the  words  of 
Him  who  says,  "  Swear  not  at  all." 

DIED  CALLING  FOR  THE  CHAPLAIN  TO  PRAY  FOR  HIM. 

Upon  our  first  interview  with  JOHN  S.  BURKET,  13th  Ind. 
Cavalry,  we  found  him  inquiring  "  what  to  do  to  be  saved."  I 


186  CHKISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

replied,  "'Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be 
saved.7  Salvation  is  free;  and  it  is  ready.  Only  believe,  and  you 
will  enjoy  it.  Faith  implies  two  things  :  forsaking  all  else,  and 
receiving  and  relying  upon  Christ  alone  for  salvation.  It  is 
taking  God  at  his  word,  and  acting  as  though  you  believed  what 
he  says."  He  gave  signs  of  penitence ;  said  he  "  trusted  in 
Christ,  and  was  not  afraid  to  die."  "  If  you  only  have  faith, 
you  need  have  no  fear  of  death.  To  die  is  gain,  if  you  die  in 
faith."  Toward  the  last  he  became  very  anxious,  and  died 
praying  to  God  for  mercy,  and  calling  upon  the  chaplain  to  pray 
for  him.  He  indited  a  letter  to  his  wife  shortly  before  he  ex- 
pired. Many  careless,  with  the  hope  of  long  life,  grow  anxious 
about  salvation  at  the  approach  of  death,  when  it  is  too  late. 
Delays  are  dangerous.  Oh,  then,  reader,  be  warned,  and  "pre- 
pare NOW  to  meet  thy  God  !  " 


"I  AM  READY  TO  DIE," 

Said  JOHN  WEEKLY,  4th  U.  S.,  Co.  I,  after  a  few  minutes 
conversation  with  him  about  his  spiritual  condition.  He  seemed 
to  be  very  tender,  penitent,  humble,  and  resigned.  "  Are  you 
not  afraid  to  die?"  "No;  I  trust  in  Jesus,  and  I  don't  fear 
death."  "  Do  you  love  the  Saviour  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  love  him,  and 
he  is  very  good  to  me."  "  Perfect  love  casteth  out  fear.  It  is  a 
great  blessing,"  I  said.  "  Oh,  yes,"  he  replied,  and  began  to 
pray,  "Jesus,  have  mercy  on  me.  Save  me,  Lord,  for  Jesus' 
sake."  Continuing  in  prayer,  he  cried  more  earnestly,  "Save, 
save  me,  SAVE  me,  O  Jesus"  How  direct,  simple,  comprehen- 
sive and  earnest  his  prayer.  Standing  upon  the  verge  of  the 
eternal  world,  like  sinking  Peter,  he  goes  directly  to  Jesus,  pleads 
for  salvation,  and  most  earnestly  cries,  "  Save  me,  Lord."  He 
seemed  to  live  right  beneath  the  throne  of  God.  And  with  a 
heart  all  alive  with  the  love  of  Christ,  it  was  no  wonder  he  had 
no  fear  of  death.  It  is  readiness  to  depart  that  banishes  fear. 
If  prepared,  "  to  die  is  gain,"  and  to  depart  is  far  better.  "  Be 
ye  also  ready."  Reading  and  praying  with  him,  and  commending 
him  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  we  bade  him  farewell,  and  left  him. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB.  187 


"TELL  THEM  I  AM  HAPPY." 

When  I  first  visited  MAHLON  SPANOGLE,  205th  Pa.,  Co.  A, 
he  was  careless  and  prayerless,  yet  a  regular  attendant  at  church 
at  home.  Beseeching  him  to  be  reconciled  to  God,  we  left  him. 
His  severe  wound  grew  worse,  became  badly  gangrened,  and, 
consequently,  he  was  taken  to  the  gangrene  camp.  At  our  next 
interview,  we  found  him  still  careless  and  unconcerned ;  and  we 
noted  him  down  in  our  book,  "  indifferent,  and  don't  pray, "  and 
he  said,  "  he  swore  when  excited."  After  pointing  him  to  the 
cross,  we  bade  him  good-by,  and  went  on  to  the  next  poor  suf- 
ferer. I  preached  to  and  prayed  with  him  often,  explaining  the 
way  of  salvation,  and  besought  him  to  repent  and  fly  to  Christ; 
and  after  a  while  he  became  interested  in  religion.  I  often  read 
the  Bible  to  him,  lying  on  his  very  sore  back,  and  explained  to 
him  the  penalties  of  the  law  and  the  precious  promises  of  the 
gospel.  By-and-by  he  became  attentive  and  tender,  and  gave 
some  signs  of  repentance.  By  the  examples  in  the  Bible  and 
by  the  promises  of  God,  I  urged  him  to  pray  earnestly,  to  think 
of  the  love  of  Christ,  and  of  the  mercy  of  God  in  sparing  him 
through  so  many  narrow  escapes,  and  what  an  awful  thing  it 
would  be  to  die  for  his  country,  and  lose  his  own  soul ;  and  tears 
trickled  down  his  pale  cheeks.  The  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon 
him,  and  he  said  he  was  sorry  for  his  sins,  and  seemed  deeply 
penitent.  He  failed  gradually;  his  mortal  frame  gave  way;  and 
shortly  before  he  expired,  whea  he  saw  he  was  going,  he  threw 
his  arms  around  the  nurse,  embraced  and  hugged  him  very  affec- 
tionately, and  said,  "  I  am  dying ;  Lord,  help  me  !  Tell  them  I 
am  happy.  The  gates  are  open,  and  I  am  going  home."  The 
wheel  at  the  cistern  stood  still,  and  his  disembodied  spirit  went, 
tve  trust,  where  there  will  be  no  more  sorrow,  pain,  and  death. 
His  bereaved  wife  arrived  half  an  hour  ere  his  departure,  and 
brought  some  good  things  for  him  to  eat ;  but  it  was  too  late. 
His  understanding  had  failed,  and  he  could  not  recognize  her. 
What  a  severe  trial !  Yet  his  dying  message,  "  Tell  them  I  am 
happy,"  was  calculated  to  afford  her  strong  consolation.  May 
God  aoundantly  bless  and  comfort  the  soldiers'  widow,  mother, 


188  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

orphan.  He  died  Feb.  28,  1865.  Reader,  when  trials,  hard- 
ships, and  suffering  surround  you,  go  to  the  gangrene  camp,  and 
think  what  was  there  endured  for  our  imperilled  country. 

"  CONVERTED  THROUGH  A  SISTER'S  LETTERS." 

Canvassing  the  heart  of  CHARLES  E.  SMITH,  148th  N.  Y., 
Co.  K,  we  soon  saw  that  he  bore  marks  of  regeneration ;  and, 
after  a  little  further  conversation  upon  the  subject,  he  said,  "  I 
was  converted  in  the  army  through  a  sister's  letters.  They  turned 
me,"  he  said.  "  You  mean  they  were  the  means  of  your  con- 
version ?  "  "  Yes ;  for  God  only  can  change  the  heart."  "  You 
seem  to  have  clear  views  of  the  plan  of  salvation :  what  is  con- 
version ?  "  "  It  is  a  change  of  heart."  He  appeared  very  peni- 
tent, humble,  and  prayerful.  "  Do  you  still  feel  like  going  on  in 
the  Lord's  service  ?  "  "  Yes  ;  I  read  my  Testament,  and  pray 
two  or  three  times  a  day."  "  Do  you  find  it  difficult,  surrounded 
with  the  temptations  of  the  army,  to  live  out  religion ? "  " No; 
if  we  only  strive  to  be  faithful,  God  will  help  and  sustain  us." 
"  Yes ;  he  says,  '  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee.'  How  does  the 
Saviour  appear  to  you  now?"  "  He  appears  dear  and  precious." 
"  Peter  says,  '  To  you,  therefore,  which  believe,  he  is  precious/ 
He  is  precious  in  his  names,  offices,  and  promises.  I  suppose 
your  sister  wrote  you  very  religious,  kind,  and  affectionate  letters, 
urging  and  beseeching  you  to  repent,  and  give  your  heart  to 
God  ?"  "Yes ;  she  seemed  to  feel  deeply,  and  to  pray  very  earnestly 
for  me."  Let  sisters  and  friends  at  home  be  encouraged  to  write 
and  pray  very  often  for  their  friends  abroad.  Persons  at  home 
cannot  at  all  conceive  what  great  encouragement  and  consolation 
a  good  letter  affords  to  one  long  from  home. 

"IF  I  GO  TO  HELL,  I  WILL  GO  PRAYING." 

At  our  first  interview  with  WILLIAM  S.  BULLOCK,  89th  N.Y., 
Co.  B,  we  found  him  very  much  concerned  about  his  salvation. 
He  said,  "Chaplain,  I  want  to  get  religion.  I  thought  I  had  it 
once,  but  guess  I  was  mistaken.  I  have  been  trying  to  pray,  but 
it  seenis  rather  hard  work.  Blinded  as  we  are  by  sin,  about 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  189 

our  spiritual  condition,  we  are  liable  to  be  deceived.  Hence  Paul 
says,  '  Let  a  man  examine  himself,  and  prove  his  own  works.'  I 
have  prayed  frequently  in  the  army  for  some  three  .years,  and 
often  with  tears ;  but  I  do  not  meet  with  that  change  I  wish." 
I  preached  to  him  and  prayed  with  him  often,  urging  him  to 
exercise  implicit  faith  in  Christ,  and  recounted  to  him  some  of 
the  evidences  of  the  gracious  state,  and  gave  him  James's  Anxious 
Inquirer  to  read.  After  reading  it,  he  said  he  thought  he  had 
been  deceived,  and  his  anxiety  seemed  to  increase,  and  his  chief 
concern  was  to  know  what  to  do  to  be  saved.  Suffering  much 
from  his  severe  wound  in  the  left  arm,  he  had  many  ups  and 
downs,  and  sometimes  we  almost  despaired  of  his  recovery.  But 
he  persevered,  prayed  on.  God  worked  in  him ;  light  burst  upon 
his  soul ;  and  plucking  up  courage,  and  feeling  determined  to 
fight  on  in  the  good  fight,  he  says,  "I  will  pray  on,  pray  till  I  die, 
and  if  I  go  to  hell,  I  will  go  praying"  "  That's  right !  May 
God  help  and  bless  you.  Make  up  your  mind,  by  grace,  to 
become  a  Christian,  and  God  will  help  you.  When  the  prodigal 
son  made  up  his  mind  and  resolved,  '  I  will  arise,  and  go  to  my 
Father/  he  soon  came  home.  Jacob  said,  1 1  will  not  let  thee  go, 
except  thou  bless  me  j '  and  God  blessed  him  there."  His  good 
wife  visited  him  often ;  with  a  tender,  anxious  heart,  he  would 
often  weep  profusely.  He  continued  to  pray  and  read,  got  better, 
was  promoted,  his  doubts  were  removed,  and  God's  smiles  re- 
stored, and  I  left  him  rejoicing  in  the  God  of  his  salvation.  If 
doubts  encompass,  if  clouds  of  darkness  surround  you,  do  not  be 
discouraged  !  Look  to  Jesus !  pray  to  God ;  pray  earnestly ;  pray 
in  faith,  and  God  will  hear  and  bless ! 


"  PRAYER  IS  A  GREAT  PRIVILEGE  " 

That  "  My  dear  husband  is  dead ! "  is  very  sad  news  to  the 
affectionate  wife ;  but  it  was  very  common  news  from  the  army 
and  hospital.  But  that  he  died  for  his  country  lessens  the  sorrow 
and  sadness  very  much ;  and  that  he  died  happy  in  the  triumph 
of  faith  lessens  it  much  more.  How  great  the  loss  to  the  family! 
though  gain  to  the  departed.  Michael  Shawley,  206th  Pa.,  Co.  K, 


190  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

at  our  first  interview,  wept  profusely,  and  was  very  tender  and 
penitent.  Said  he  had  been  praying  for  years,  though  a  non- 
professor.  He  said,  "  I  feel,  if  I  were  called  away  to-day,  I  would 
go  to  heaven.  I  feel  happy.  I  thought  I  could  go  to  heaven 
without  joining  church."  Apparently  perfectly  resigned,  he  said, 
"  Not  my  will,  but  God's  be  done.  If  I  die,  tell  my  wife  I  die 
happy."  "Oh,  how  exalted  the  privilege;  dying  upon  the  altar  of 
your  country ;  dying  at  the  foot  of  God's  throne,  resigned  to  his 
will,  and  dying  happy  in  the  Lord  !  What  kind  of  a  heart  have 
you  now  ?  "  "A  bad,  wicked  heart ;  yet,  if  it  don't  deceive  me, 
I  have  given  it  to  God."  "Do  you  find  it  easy  to  pray?" 
"  Yes  ;  prayer  is  a  great  privilege."  "  Though  a  non-professor, 
you  seem  to  be  a  Christian ;  yet  the  Saviour's  sweet  command, 
'Do  this  in  remembrance  of  me,'  I  suppose  you  never  obeyed?" 
"  No ;  I  never  went  to  the  Lord's  table,  but  I  often  desired  to." 
"  It  is  a  great  privilege,  refreshing  to  the  soul,  and  strengthening 
to  the  heart,  which  no  Christian  should  deny  himself.  It  is  his 
right,  it  is  his  duty,  and  to  disobey  is  sin.  When  God,  through 
his  great  mercy,  converts  a  sinner,  he  ought  to  acknowledge  it 
before  the  world.  l  Come  out  from  among  them,  saith  the  Lord, 
and  I  will  receive  you.' "  He  lingered  till  March  3,  1865,  and 
no  doubt  went  home  to  heaven. 


"OH,  THAT  I  HAD  VENTURED  BEFORE." 

This  was  the  weeping  lament  of  a  brave,  patriotic  soldier  who 
had  put  off  repentance  till  brought  to  the  verge  of  the  grave. 
His  name  was  Richard  Delling,  8th  Maine,  Co.  E.  We  visited 
him  often,  preached  to  and  conversed  with  him,  and  urged  him 
to  immediate  repentance.  He  seemed  penitent,  tender,  and  anx- 
ious, and  wept  freely.  We  could  but  weep  to  hear  him  recount 
the  heroism  and  losses  of  his  regiment  in  battle.  His  chief 
lament  was  his  putting  off  religion ;  and  sometimes,  with  most 
intense  earnestness,  he  would  exclaim,  "Oh,  that  I  had  ven- 
tured before.  If  I  had  only  thought  of  it  a  year  ago.  If  I  had 
only  known  of  this  sickness  when  I  was  in  health,  how  much 
better."  He  resolved  to  do  better  Mr.  Martin,  fr^m  New  York, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  191 

of  the  Christian  Commission,  did  much  for  him  temporally  and 
spiritually.  I  plead  with  him,  and  besought  him  by  the  mercies 
of  God  to  come  to  Jesus,  and  come  now.  He  desired  a  good 
book  to  read.  I  gave  him  one.  The  Spirit  of  God  seemed  to 
strive  with  him,  and  he  said,  "  I  have  a  firmer  hold  on  God  than 
I  have  on  the  devil."  "Do  you  feel  the  devil  tempting  you?" 
"  Yes,  I  do."  " ( As  a  roaring  lion,  he  walketh  about,  seeking 
whom  he  may  devour/  yet  if  you  resist  him,  he  will  flee  from 
you.  Only  meet  him  with  prayer  and  the  sword  of  the  Spirit, 
and  he  will  flee  at  once.  Martin  Luther,  when  tempted  by  him, 
simply  prayed,  '  Get  away,  thou  infernal  spirit/  and  he  fled  im- 
mediately. Just  hold  on  to  God  ;  cling  to  the  cross ;  throAV  your- 
self right  into  the  outstretched  arms  of  Jesus,  and  he  will  rescue 
you  from  Satan's  grasp,  wash  your  soul  in  his  blood,  and  save 
you  in  spite  of  the  devil.  Just  cut  loose  from  Satan  at  once,  and 
surrender  yourself,  heart  and  all,  to  Christ,  and  he  will  give  you 
a  kingdom  of  righteousness,  joy,  and  peace."  "  How  very  strik- 
ing your  warning  words.  Oh,  that  I  had  ventured  before." 
"  Ventured  before  ?  "  "  Yes."  "  It  is  not  too  late  now.  The 
Spirit  still  strives ;  the  blood  of  Christ  still  cleanseth  from  all 
sin.  Jesus  still  cries,  t  How  often  would  I  have  gathered  you/ 
and  beseeches  you  look  and  live,  believe  and  be  saved  :  just 
come  to  him  as  you  arc,  and  there  is  no  venture  about  it.  VEN- 
TURE !  VENTURE,  in  going  to  Jesus !  No ;  thank  God,  there 
is  no  venture  about  it.  It  is  a  SURE  thing.  God's  promises, 
made  in  infinite  wisdom  and  backed  by  omnipotent  power,  are 
all  sure.  Only  believe,  and  you'll  be  saved."  He  seemed  to  be 
coming  to  Christ,  growing  in  grace,  and  said,  "I  see  a  light;" 
and  among  his  last  words  to  me  were,  "  I  am  happy  in  the 
Lord."  Lingering  along  till  February  27, 1865,  his  mortal  frame 
gave  way,  and  he  went,  we  hope,  to  dwell  with  God  in  heaven. 


"I  AM  GUILTY  OF  EVERYTHING  BUT  THEFT  AND  MURDER," 

Said  LAWRENCE  McGAVERN,  2d  Pa.  Heavy  Art.,Co.  G,  as  we 
were  conversing  about  the  value  of  the  soul,  the  wickedness  of 
the  heart,  and  the  love  of  Christ.  He  was  very  low  and  danger- 


192  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

ous  with  the  phthisic.  "  What  kind  of  a  life  have  you  lived  ?"  "  I 
have  lived  a  very  wicked  life.  I  am  guilty  of  everything  but 
theft  and  murder.  I  am  a  great  sinner."  "  Truly  you  are  a  great 
sinner.  But  Christ  is  a  great  Saviour  —  a  greater  Saviour  than 
you  are  sinner ;  more  willing  to  forgive  than  you  are  to  commit 
sin ;  more  mighty  to  save  than  even  you  or  Satan  is  to  destroy. 
Guilty  of  everything  but  theft  and  murder  ?  "  "  Yes."  "  Your 
sins  are  great,  yet  Christ's  love  is  greater.  Christ's  love  is  stronger 
than  death,  sweeter  than  life,  and  vast  as  eternity.  The  love  of 
Christ  constraineth  us.  At  the  tap  of  the  drum,  the  patriot 
soldier  leaves  home,  goes  forth,  fights,  bleeds,  and  dies  to  save 
his  country.  Christ  left  heaven,  and  came  to  earth,  to  die  upon 
Calvary  to  save  sinners.  He  has  wrought  out  salvation,  fulfilled 
the  law,  made  an  atonement  for  sin,  bought  us  with  his  blood, 
paid  the  price  of  our  redemption,  and,  in  a  word,  made  all  things 
ready,  and  now  beseeches  you  look  and  live,  believe  and  be  saved. 
He  saves  the  greatest  sinners.  He  saved  the  thief  on  the  cross ; 
he  saved  some  of  his  own  murderers  at  the  foot  of  it,  and  he  will 
save  you,  if  you  will  repent  and  trust  in  him."  As  I  talked,  read, 
and  prayed  with  him,  the  Spirit  seemed  to  strive  and  the  word 
to  sink  deep  into  his  heart.  He  appeared  to  be  deeply  penitent, 
and  anxious  to  be  prayed  for.  Thanking  me  heartily  for  my 
prayers,  he  said  he  prayed,  felt  penitent,  and  trusted  in  the  Lord. 
"How  long  have  you  been  in  the  army?"  "Almost  three 
years  ;  my  time  is  out  to-morrow."  "  Out  to-morrow  ?  And 
what  if  your  time  on  earth  should  be  out  to-morrow  ?  Do  you 
feel  willing  and  prepared  to  go ? "  "I  hope  so,"  he  said,  with 
deep  emotion  and  tears.  "  My  sins  are  great,  yet  I  believe  not 
unpardonable.  I  find  it  easy  to  pray  now,  and  Jesus  seems  more 
precious."  "This  is  the  crisis  of  your  soul.  Without  doubt 
your  last  sands  are  running,  time  with  you  will  soon  be  no  more. 
Oh,  then,  we  pray  you,  we  beseech  you,  by  the  agonies  of  the  Son 
of  God,  escape  for  thy  life,  fly  to  Jesus,  and  salvation  is  yours." 
He  lingered  along  until  January  1,  1865 :  his  time  was  out,  and 
his  soul  took  its  flight.  A  voice  seemed  to  say,  "  The  battle  is 
fought,  and  the  victory  is  won." 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAK.  193 


"I  EXPECT  TO  GET  RELIGION   WHEN  I  GET  HOME" 

In  our  interviews  with  HENRY  LUCAS,  39th  111.,  Co.  H,  we 
always  found  him  disposed  to  procrastinate  and  "put  it  off." 
He  said,  "  I  expect  to  get  religion  when  I  get  home."  "  Why 
not  get  it  here  now  f  "  "  This  place  is  unfavorable ;  there  is  so 
much  wickedness,  profanity,  etc.,  here."  "Still,  the  Lord  is  here, 
waiting  to  be  gracious,  and  give  you  eternal  life.  Repentance 
will  be  just  as  easy  here  as  at  home;  the  way  of  salvation  is  the 
same  here  as  at  home ;  God  and  Jesus  Christ  are  the  same  here 
as  at  home ;  and  your  disposition  to  put  it  off  is  a  delusion  of  the 
devil.  Delay  is  the  devil's  verb  j  Now  is  God's  time.  What  if 
you  should  never  get  home  ?  Then,  according  to  your  own  plans, 
you  will  be  lost.  Oh,  how  unreasonable  and  dangerous !  If  a 
friend  were  to  offer  you  a  gift  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  here, 
to-day,  would  you  wait  till  you  got  home  to  receive  it?"  "No; 
I  would  accept  it  now."  "  Why,  then,  refuse  the  gift  of  eternal 
life  now,  which  is  infinitely  more  valuable  ?  If  you  were  a 
deserter,  sentenced  to  be  executed,  and  the  President  would  offer 
you  pardon,  would  you  refuse  it  ?  "  "  No ;  I  would  most  gladly 
receive  it."  "You  have  deserted  God;  and  you  have  been 
arrested,  tried,  and  condemned  to  eternal  death.  Jesus  now 
offers  you  pardon  and  eternal  life,  and  you  refuse  it  —  refuse  it 
at  the  peril  of  your  soul.  Is  it  wise?  is  it  reasonable?  is  it  safe?" 
"No."  "Are  you  willing  to  risk  it?"  "No."  "Then  seek 
ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found.  May  God  help,  bless,  and 
save  you." 


BLEEDING  TO  DEATH,  YET    "RESTING  ON  CHRIST." 

EMANUEL  BYERS,  116th  Ohio,  Co.  D  (ward  number  twelve), 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  left  arm  at  the  last  great  battle 
near  Petersburg,  Va.,  which  resulted  in  the  fall  of  Richmond, 
the  flight  of  Jeff.  Davis,  Lee's  surrender,  and  the  death  of 
the  confederacy.  At  our  first  interview,  we  found  him  very 
tender  and  anxious.  He  said,  "  I  am  going  to  become  a  Christian 
when  I  get  home."  "What  if  you  should  never  get  home?" 
13 


194  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

I  said ;  and  he  began  to  think  and  reflect.  I  visited  him  very 
often ;  prayed  with  and  preached  occasionally  to  him  and  his 
ward,  warning  them  "  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come/'  to  repent,  and 
fly  to  Christ.  He  read  his  Bible  much,  and  when  I  talked  to 
him  about  his  sins,  the  mercy  of  God,  and  the  love  of  Christ,  he 
would  weep  like  a  child.  He  said,  "  I  started  once  to  go  to  the 
mourner's  bench,  burdened  with  sin  and  a  heart  ready  to  burst ; 
but  a  friend  called  me  back,  and  I  did  not  go.  The  feelings 
wore  off,  and  I  have  never  felt  the  same  since."  Yet  he  was  not 
"  without  hope."  Time  fled :  he  lived  on,  got  better,  prayed, 
and  bled  occasionally.  On  May  1st,  he  said,  "  My  prayers  were 
answered  last  night,  and  I  now  feel  more  comfortable."  Calling 
on  him  two  days  after,  he  seemed  to  be  growing  in  grace  and 
drawing  nearer  and  nearer  unto  God,  and  his  prospects  both 
temporal  and  spiritual  looked  brighter.  He  prayed  on,  and  I 
besought  him,  by  the  mercies  of  God  and  the  love  of  Christ,  to 
make  an  immediate  and  en  tire  surrender  of  himself  to  the  Saviour. 
Life  ebbed  away.  There  lies  the  brave  patriot,  with  his  life- 
blood  gradually  flowing  from  his  wound.  "  It  is  hard  to  leave 
you.  Oh,  my  dear  fellow,  come  to  Jesus  just  as  you  are,  and 
come  now.  May  God  bless,  help,  and  enable  you  to  come. 
Having  shed  your  own  blood  for  the  salvation  of  your  country, 
come  and  enjoy  the  cleansing,  saving  power  of  the  blood  of 
Jesus  !  "  Reading  and  praying  with  him  again,  we  bade  him  fare- 
well, and  left  him.  Calling  again  shortly  after,  we  found  him 
indulging  a  bright  hope,  and  he  said,  "I  think  God  has  forgiven 
my  sins,  and  that  I  have  experienced  a  '  change  of  heart.' "  A 
pleasant  smile  upon  his  pale  face  seemed  to  denote  he  was  at 
peace  with  God.  At  our  next  call  he  bid  fair  to  get  well,  and 
said,  "  I  am  resting  on  Christ  sure."  "  Thank  God  !  and  are  you 
sure  of  it?"  "Yes,  I  feel  so,  chaplain."  "What  a  glorious 
attainment !  Dying  for  your  country,  and  yet  dying  in  the 
Lord  !  "  He  lived  along  for  several  days,  until  the  tying  of  his 
wound  gave  way:  he  bled  to  death  May  27th,  1865,  with  his 
body  all  bathed  in  his  own  blood,  and  his  soul,  we  trust,  washed 
in  the  blood  of  Jesus,  went  home  to  dwell  with  God. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  195 

"PRAYING  FOR   SPORT." 

While  many  of  the  soldiers  died  triumphantly,  some  seemed  to 

go  "  without  hope." ,  of  67th  Ohio,  Co.  F,  a  stout, 

robust  man,  and  a  brave  soldier,  was  brought  from  "  the  front," 
mortally  wounded  with  a  minie-ball  in  the  left  side  of  his  head, 
into  a  tent  in  ward  number  twenty-four.  Though  drowsy,  he 
was  sensible,  but  not  disposed  to  talk  much.  Upon  canvassing 
his  heart,  he  said,  "  I  am  not  a  religious  man."  "  Do  you  read 
the  Bible?"  "Yes;  I  read  it  some."  "The  Saviour  says, 
' Search  the  Scriptures/  Do  you  ever  pray  ?  "  "I  and  others 
have  prayed  for  sport."  "  Prayed  for  sport !  What !  mocking 
God !  "  "  Yes,  I  'spose  you  may  call  it  that."  "  Did  you  not 
feel  afraid  God  would  smite  you  dead  ? "  "  No ;  we  had  no 
fear  of  God  before  our  eyes."  "  Pray  for  sport!  oh,  how  awful ! 
how  deep  the  depravity  of  the  human  heart !  Do  you  ever 
swear  ?  "  "  Yes,  occasionally."  "  And  don't  you  feel  sorry  for 
your  sins  of  profanity  and  mocking  God  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  know  it 
is  wrong."  "Have  you  ever  felt  any  special  interest  in  reli- 
gion?" "No,  nothing  particular;  I  have  lived  a  careless  life." 
"Though  you  are  a  great  sinner,  yet  Christ  is  a  great  Saviour. 
He  is  more  willing  to  forgive  than  you  are  to  commit  sin. 
Christ's  love  is  stronger  than  the  sinner's  enmity.  His  blood 
'  cleanseth  from  all  sin.'  Do  you  feel  your  sins  to  be  great  ? " 
"Yes;  they  are  very  great."  "Jesus  is  mighty  to  save.  You 
have  received  one  wound  for  the  salvation  of  the  country ;  Jesus 
received  five  for  the  salvation  of  the  soul.  That  ball  in  your 
head  is  not  as  bad  as  sin  in  your  heart ;  that  ball  may  destroy 
your  life ;  but  your  sins,  unless  you  repent,  will  destroy  your 
soul.  Oh,  then,  we  entreat  you,  repent,  look  to  Christ ;  throw 
yourself  right  into  the  arms  of  Jesus,  and  he  will  save  you. 
Grasp  him  by  faith,  like  a  drowning  man  grasps  a  lifeboat,  and 
all  will  be  well.  God  calls ;  Jesus  invites,  and  says,  '  Come  unto 
me,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.'  Time  is  short;  life  uncertain. 
Now  is  the  accepted  time.  Look,  and  live  ! "  He  lingered  a  few 
days,  became  stupid,  and  died  November  10, 1864,  without  giving 
any  particular  evidence  of  preparation.  Reader,  be  warned  ! 


196  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 


"1  GAVE  MY  HEART  TO  JESUS," 

Said  DWIGHT  WILLIAMS,  203d  Pa.,  Co.  C,  as  he  related  his 
religious  experience.  "  That  is  a  very  reasonable,  profitable  gift : 
Jesus  gave  himself,  shed  his  blood,  gave  his  life  for  us;  and  it  is 
but  a  reasonable  service  that  we  should  give  our  hearts  unto 
him."  "  Do  you  feel  that  you  have  given  him  your  heart  ?  " 
"  Yes ;  I  feel  so,  and  he  seems  very  precious  to  my  soul." 
"Think  he  has  given  you  a  new  heart?"  "I  trust  he  has." 
"  Our  hearts  are  very  wicked  and  deceitful,  and  the  springs  of 
action  lie  very  deep ;  therefore,  lest  we  be  deceived,  we  should 
closely  examine  ourselves,  search  our  hearts,  and  see  if  they  are 
right  with  God,  and  pray,  like  David,  '  Create  in  me  a  clean 
heart,  O  God ! '  Do  you  ever  say  bad  words  ?  "  "  No ;  I  detest 
swearing."  "  Do  you  pray  regularly  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  prayed  at 
home,  and  I  pray  in  the  army  too."  All  about  him  seemed  to 
bear  marks  of  the  new  creature,  and  oifering  him  the  consola- 
tions of  the  gospel,  and  commending  him  to  God  in  prayer,  we 
bade  him  a  long  farewell,  November  7th,  1864.  He  lingered  till 
next  day,  when  his  soul  was  dismissed  from  its  clay  tenement, 
and,  washed  in  Christ's  blood,  doubtless  went  home  to  be  forever 
with  the  Lord. 

"CHRIST  IS  EVERYTHING  TO  ME," 

Said  CHARLES  WILSON,  16th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Art,,  as  he  related 
his  religious  experience.  Though  a  non-professor  at  home,  he 
now  seemed  to  have  Christ  formed  within  him ;  and  his  own 
dying  words  seemed  clearly  to  evince  that  Christ,  of  God,  had 
been  made  unto  him  "  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification,  and 
redemption."  (1  Cor.  i.  30.)  "  What  evidence  have  you  that 
Christ  is  yours ?  "  "I  think  much  about  him ;  I  love  to  hear 
about  him,  to  read  his  word ;  and  he  appears  so  lovely,  and  I 
feel  he  has  forgiven  my  sins."  "  How  rich  the  inheritance,  and 
how  great  the  consolation !  If  Christ  is  everything  unto  you, 
then  all  things  are  yours,  whether  the  world,  or  life,  or  death,  or 
things  present,  or  things  to  come  —  all  are  yours;  and  ye  are 
Christ's."  "Then  you  don't  want?"  "No;  the  Lord  is  my 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  197 

shepherd,  I  shall  not  want."  "  You  must  feel  very  happy  ? " 
"  Yes,  I  feel  happy,  and  am  not  afraid  to  die."  "  With  Jesus 
Christ  for  your  prophet,  priest,  and  king,  dying  for  your  country 
—  for  the  cause  of  God,  liberty,  and  truth — you  have  no  need  to 
fear  death,  for  then  'to  die  is  gain,  and  to  depart  is  far  better.'" 
This  was  October  20th,  1864.  John  Lambert,  who  died  a 
martyr  at  the  stake,  while  his  fingers'  ends  were  flaming  with 
fire,  exclaimed,  "  None  but  Christ ;  none  but  Christ !  "  Charles 
survived  until  next  day,  and  with  his  weeping  wife  at  his  side, 
witnessing  his  last  struggle  with  the  king  of  terrors,  his  soul 
bid  farewell  to  its  clay  tenement  and  the  world,  and  went,  we 
trust,  where  all  is  joy  and  peace. 

"  MY  SINS  ARE  GREAT  AND  HEAVY," 

Said  SMITH  A.  CONNER,  62d  Ohio,  Co.  I,  as  I  was  canvassing 
his  smitten,  tender  heart.  With  his  soul  stirred,  he  was  very 
anxious,  prayerful,  penitent,  and  had  a  deep  sense  of  his  sins. 
His  principal  inquiry  was,  "What  must  I  do  to  be  saved?" 
He  prayed  while  I  stood  at  his  side,  and  the  burden  of  his  prayer 
was,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner !  "  He  sent  for  me,  and 
requested  me  to  pray  that  his  sins  be  blotted  out.  "  You  seem 
to  feel  deeply  the  weight  of  your  sins  ? "  "  Yes,  my  sins  are 
great  and  heavy."  " '  The  blood  of  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin.' 
Come  to  him,  and  l  though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be 
as  white  as  snow.'  Why  don't  you  come  to  Christ  at  once  ? 
Now  is  the  time."  "  I  do  try  to ;  but  somehow  something 
hinders  me."  "There  is  nothing  in  the  way  but  yourself; 
Christ  is  willing,  able,  waiting.  All  things  are  ready.  You 
must  let  go  self,  and  lay  hold  of  Jesus,  and  he  will  blot  out  your 
sins,  and  wash  your  soul  in  his  own  blood.  Step  right  out  on 
the  promises  of  God,  and  grasp  Christ  by  faith,  and  he  will  save 
you.  Jesus  is  here  knocking  at  the  door  of  your  heart,  warning, 
inviting,  and  beseeching  you,  by  the  pains  of  hell  and  by  the 
joys  of  heaven,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God.  Time  is  short ;  eternity 
is  near ;  Death  shakes  his  dart ;  the  grave  yawns ;  hell  frowns, 
and  heaven  smiles !  and  urill  you,  can  you  delay  ?  How  long 


198  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

will  you  halt?  Christ  says,  in  tones  of  love  and  mercy,  '  My 
son,  my  son,  give  me  thy  heart!'  Just  think  how  lamentable  it 
will  be  for  you  to  die  for  your  country  and  lose  your  own  soul ; 
die  beside  the  Prince  of  Life,  and  yet  die  and  be  lost  ?  Oh,  my 
dear  friend,  look  to  Christ,  and  look  now  I "  Preaching  and 
praying  with  him,  and  commending  him  to  God,  we  left  him. 
He  lingered  a  few  days,  and  died  full  of  hope  November  7th, 
1864. 

«  SATAN  IS  OFTEN  AT  MY  HEELS, 

"  But  I  keeps  him  off,"  said  JOSIAH  MURDOCK,  4th  U.  S.,  Co. 
H,  colored.  "  How  do  you  keep  him  off?  "  "  I  keeps  him  off 
by  faith  and  prayer.  I  prays,  and  then  he  goes  away."  "  Does 
Satan  tempt  you  often  ?  "  "  Yes ;  but  I  resist  him,  and  he  flees. 
Satan  made  three  bold,  imprudent  attacks  upon  the  Saviour ;  but 
he  always  met  him  with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  invariably 
put  him  to  flight.  Paul  says,  '  Put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God, 
that  ye  may  be  able  to  stand  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil.'" 
"  How  long  have  you  been  praying  ?  "  "  Two  years,  this  fall.  I 
am  trying  to  go  to  heaven."  "The  way  is  straight  and  narrow. 
It  requires  close  watching,  straight  walking,  and  earnest  praying. 
The  Christian's  life  is  a  warfare.  Jesus,  our  great  Captain, 
commands  us  to  strive,  fight,  contend,  watch,  pray,  and  be  faith- 
ful. Think  you  have  got  God  in  your  heart  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  think 
BO."  "  Do  you  love  the  Saviour  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  try  to  love  him 
with  all  my  heart."  "Pray  on,  Josiah.  Be  earnest,  cling  to 
the  cross.  '  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  God  will  give  you 
a  crown  of  life.' " 


"I  WOULD  RATHER  DIE."  —  JAMES  WARD. 

It  was  a  cold,  chilly  night,  late  in  November,  1864,  near  mid- 
night, when  I  was  called  to  see  James  Ward,  81st  N.  Y.,  Co.  I, 
lying  in  a  cold,  dreary  tent  in  the  Gangrene  Camp.  At  first 
sight  he  seemed  to  be  nigh  unto  death,  from  a  severe  wound 
received  while  battling  for  his  country.  With  a  strong,  abiding 
faith  in  Him  who  giveth  life,  he  manifested  no  fear  at  the  ap- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  199 

proach  of  death.  Having  been  trying  to  serve  God  some  five 
years,  he  said,  "Christ  is  all  my  hope;  and  he  is  growing  more 
and  more  precious."  I  asked  him  what  word  he  had  to  send  to 
his  family.  He  said,  with  deep  emotion  and  tears,  "  Tell  them 
I  am  happy  in  Christ.  That  I  would  like  to  live  for  their  sake, 
if  God  is  willing,  and  if  it  would  glorify  his  name;  but  for  my- 
self, I  would  rather  die."  To  die  is  gain.  How  solemn  the 
scene.  Gather  round  and  gaze  upon  the  Christian  patriot  dying 
for  his  country ;  dying  in  the  Lord,  resigned  to  God's  will  as 
his  rule,  and  ready  to  live  or  die  for  the  promotion  of  God's 
glory  as  his  end.  What  a  happy  attainment !  How  consoling 
his  dying  message  to  his  bereaved  wife  and  children.  "Tell 
them  I  am  happy  in  the  Lord."  And  the  fervor  and  aifectionate 
tenderness  with  which  he  spoke  these  words  added  much  to  their 
import.  I  read  the  fourteenth  of  John,  endeavoring  to  comfort 
him  with  those  consoling  words ;  and  kneeling  down  upon  the 
cold  ground,  we  commended  him  to  God  in  prayer.  On  bidding 
him  farewell,  he  expressed  a  strong  hope  and  a  bright  assurance 
that  we  would  meet  again  around  God's  bright  throne  in  heaven. 
"Jerome  of  Prague  sung  God's  praise  till  choked  by  the  flames 
at  the  stake,  and  with  his  dying  breath  said,  '  This  soul  in 
flames,  I  offer,  Christ,  to  thee.'  You,  having  sacrificed  your 
life  upon  the  altar  of  your  country,  now  seem  ready  to  oifer  your 
soul  to  Jesus."  His  soul  seemed  to  be  wrapped  in  joy  and  bliss. 
The  serenity  of  his  countenance,  his  calm,  composed  spirit, 
together  with  his  easy  departure,  seemed  to  say,  "  Thanks  be  to 
God,  who  giveth  as  the  victory,"  and  to  his  weeping  wife  and 
children,  "weep  not,"  be  of  good  "cheer,"  and  strive  to  meet 
me  in  heaven.  He  lingered  till  next  day,  and  God  took  him 
home. 

A  SOLDIER'S  CREED. 

As  I  approached  JACOB  BOSTON,  188th  Pa.  Vol.,  Co.  C,  he 
grasped  my  hand  very  warmly,  and  said,  "  I  trust  in  God,  and 
shall  be  saved,  and  it  makes  me  happy."  What  a  short,  plain, 
comprehensive  creed!  Would  to  God  every  soldier  could 
heartily  adopt  it.  Just  look  at  it.  Three  blessed  things — faith, 


200  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

salvation,  happiness.  Faith  in  God  as  the  source  ;  assurance,  the 
privilege;  happiness,  the  result.  Strong  faith  always  fills  the 
soul  with  joy.  "Believing,  ye  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and 
full  of  glory."  "  I  suppose  you  have  no  fear  of  death  ?  "  "  No ; 
with  faith  in  God,  I  fear  not."  Perpetua  was  sentenced  to  mar- 
tyrdom, and  when  most  earnestly  besought  by  her  tender  father 
to  renounce  Christ,  great  was  the  struggle  in  her  heart ;  but  grace 
at  last  triumphed,  and  she  said,  "  I  am  not  in  my  own  power, 
but  in  that  of  God ; "  and  when  asked,  "  Art  thou  a  Christian  ?  " 
she  said,  "  I  am ;"  and  when  condemned  to  execution,  she  returned 
to  her  prison  filled  with  joy,  saying,  "  None  of  these  things  move 
me."  It  was  the  power  of  faith.  She  died  in  triumph.  "  Have 
faith  in  God." 


"I  SEE  SO  MUCH  BAD  CHRISTIANITY,  I  AM  DISCOURAGED," 

Said  GEORGE  H.  GILBERT,  34th  Mass.,  Co.  I,  as  I  was  trying 
to  persuade  and  urge  him  to  come  to  Jesus.  "  Blinded  by  sin 
since  the  fall,  man's  ways  have  been  very  crooked,  and  so  prone  to 
evil  that,  even  after  regeneration,  there  is  much  that  is  wayward 
and  perverse.  We  must  not  expect  perfection,  even  in  Christians. 
What  kind  of  life  have  you  lived ? "  "I  have  lived  careless  and 
prayerless."  "  Do  you  swear  ?  "  "  Yes,  often  ;  but  I  am  quit- 
ting it  now."  "Quitting  it?  Why  don't  you  quit  it  at  once? 
From  the  bleeding  of  your  wound,  you  look  pale  and  weak,  and 
God  only  knows  how  short  may  be  your  time  on  earth.  You 
have  fought  and  bled,  and  are  ready  to  die  for  your  country ;  and 
yet  you  have  never  prayed  for  it,  nor  for  yourself.  God  com- 
mands us  to  pray  and  repent  now !  You  should  regard  that 
wound  as  a  call  to  repent,  and  trust  in  Him  who  was  wounded 
for  our  transgressions.  Let  every  bleeding  be  a  warning  to  come 
to  Him  who  bled  for  you.  You  seem  to  stumble  over  the  bad 
Christianity  of  professors.  This  is  a  sinful  excuse.  You  are 
excusing  one  sin  with  another  sin ;  excusing  your  own  great  sin 
of  rejecting  Christ  with  professors'  sins.  God  will  never  hear 
such  excuses;  and  if  you  go  to  the  judgment-seat  with  them,  he 
will  bid  you  depart  —  l  depart,  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting  fire  ! ' 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  201 

There  is  much  inconsistent  practice  in  professors,  we  admit; 
but  they  are  not  to  be  taken  as  examples.  No  :  take  Christ  as 
your  example ;  and  remember,  if  you  stumble  into  perdition  over 
professors'  imperfections,  it  won't  lessen  the  torment  any.  It  is 
your  own  faultv  '  Every  tub  must  stand  on  its  own  bottom ;  '  and, 
unless  we  all  stand  on  the  '  Rock  of  Ages/  we  will  sink  to  hell. 
Oh,  then,  we  beseech  you,  by  the  love  of  Christ  and  by  the  joys 
of  heaven,  repent,  rind  become  a  devoted  Christian,  and  set  the 
church  a  good  example,  and  provoke  others  to  good  works. 
Come  out  from  the  world.  Be  '  a  living  epistle/  and  God  will 
save  you !  May  God  abundantly  bless  you !  Professor,  beware ; 
'  take  heed  to  thyself; '  '  keep  thyself  pure ; '  walk  worthy,  lest 
you  be  a  stumbling-block  to  others," 

"JESUS  IS  STILL  PRECIOUS." 

PETER  BOBBINS,  203d  Pa.,  Co.  F,  was  mortally  wounded  in 
the  heroic  fight  of  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  and  brought  to  the  hospital 
with  an  arm  amputated,  and  with  a  bad  stump.  Though  heroic 
and  patient,  he  never  seemed  to  get  along  well ;  he  was  a  calm, 
harmless,  meek  Methodist.  Though  he  suffered  long  and  severe, 
he  bore  it  all  very  patiently,  without  a  complaining  word  ;  pray- 
erful and  humble,  he  said,  "  Christ  is  all  my  trust."  "  None  else 
is  worthy  of  trust;  none  but  Jesus  can  do  helpless  sinners  good; 
he  is  mighty  to  save !  Throw  yourself  right  into  his  arms,  and 
he  will  sustain,  bless,  and  comfort  you."  I  visited  him  very 
often,  and  preached  to  him  occasionally.  He  said,  February  18, 
"Jesus  is  still  precious."  Getting  worse,  he  said,  February  21, "  I 
can  die  happy."  "  You  helped  to  win  a  glorious  victory  at  Fort 
Fisher ;  but  only  cling  to  Jesus,  and  he  will  enable  you  to  win 
a  victory  far  more  glorious  when  you  die."  His  wound  became 
gangrened,  and  he  was  taken  to  the  Gangrene  Camp,  where  he 
suffered,  not  only  from  his  wound,  but  from  cold.  There  was  no 
fire  in  his  tent.  Lingering  till  February  26,  1865,  death  closed 
the  scene,  and  God  took  him  home  to  glory.  Rev.  McClaren 
said,  when  he  was  dying,  "  I  am  gathering  together  all  my  pray- 
ers, sermons,  good  and  evil  deeds,  and  am  going  to  throw  them 


202  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

all  overboard,  and  swim  to  glory  on  the  plank  of  free  grace.' 
Christ  was  all  his  trust ! 


"I  STILL  HOLD  ON  TO  GOD." 

PERRY  WELSH,  67th  Ohio,  Co.  A,  though  rather  careless  ana 
indifferent  at  first,  soon  became  deeply  interested  in  his  soul's 
salvation.  Becoming  prayerful,  tender,  penitent,  and  resigned  to 
God's  will,  he  said,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die."  "  Do  you  love  the 
,  Saviour  ?  "  u  Yes,"  he  replied.  "  Love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the 
law  —  the  very  heart,  soul,  and  core  of  Christianity.  And  if 
you  love  Jesus,  you  need  not  fear  death,  for  then  heaven  is  sure. 
What  a  glorious  attainment,  to  rise  above  the  fear  of  death !  It 
requires  courage  to  face  the  enemy  on  the  field  of  battle;  but  to 
face  death,  God,  and  eternity,  requires  far  greater  courage."  He 
became  more  anxious,  tender,  and  earnest;  and  at  my  last  call 
with  him,  he  said,  "I  still  hold  on  to  God's  will."  "That's 
right !  Hold  on,  hold  on  to  the  cross,  and  stand  by  the  flag ; 
hold  on  to  Jesus ;  hold  fast ;  be  steadfast !  When  waves  of  trouble 
rise,  hold  on  ;  when  the  world  allures,  and  temptations  press, 
hold  on ;  when  you  go  to  face  the  enemy  amid  the  shock  of  bat- 
tle, hold  on  to  the  flag,  and  cling  to  the  cross !  Above  all,  hold 
on,  when  you  come  to  face  death  and  fight  the  last  great  battle 
of  life  !  Be  faithful ;  go  on ;  never  let  go  the  cross,  and  you  will 
surely  win  the  crown  !  "  Lingering  till  January  5,  1865,  he  let 
go  the  vital  cord,  and  went  home,  we  trust,  to  glory. 

"I  PRAY  MUCH  IN  BATTLE." 

At  my  first  interview  with  JOSHUA  SMITH,  llth  Western  Va., 
Co.  F,  I  found  him  a  decided  Christian.  Having  passed  the 
sea  of  doubts,  he  now  seemed  to  enjoy  full  assurance.  He  said, 
"  I  have  no  doubt  God  will  make  it  all  right  with  me : "  said 
he,  "  I  pray  much  in  battle,  on  the  march,  and  everywhere."  He 
seemed  very  tender  and  penitent,  and  wept  as  we  talked  about 
these  things.  "  And  did  you  find  time  to  pray  in  battle  ?  "  "Oh, 
yes ;  I  would  load  and  fire,  and  pray  at  the  same  time."  "  What ! 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  203 

pray  much  in  battle,  when  so  much  depends  upon  every  man 
doing  his  utmost  with  his  musket  and  sword  ?  "  "  Yes  j  for  the 
victory  is  of  God,  after  all."  "  Pray  much  in  battle,  when  your 
captain  commands  you  to  fight  ?  "  "  Yes ;  for  the  great  Captain 
commands  us, '  watch  and  pray  ! ' "  "  How  striking  the  difference ; 
you  pray  much  in  battle,  and  many  never  find  time  to  pray ! 
You  are  right ;  with  the  grave  yawning,  eternity  approaching, 
and  comrades  falling  and  dying,  it  is  a  needy  time  to  pray.  We 
should  pray  as  though  God  did  everything  in  battle,  and  fight  as 
though  man  had  everything  to  do  himself."  He  lived  till  June 
4,  1865,  and  passed  away  to  where  there  will  be  no  more  war, 
pain,  nor  death.  Let  the  prayerless  be  warned  and  admonished. 
"  What,"  said  the  Saviour,  "  could  ye  not  watch  with  me  one 
hour  ?  Watch  and  pray,  lest  ye  fall  into  temptation." 

A  SOLDIER  WITH  SEVEN  WOUNDS. 

JOHN  WERTZ,  23d  Ohio,  Co.  D,  received  seven  wounds  in 
one  of  the  last  battles  near  Petersburg,  Va.  Patient,  brave,  and 
patriotic,  though  he  lay  on  his  back  for  several  months  and  suf- 
fered severely,  he  took  it  all  very  calmly.  His  recovery  at  times 
was  doubtful,  but  with  extra  care  and  with  his  strong  nerve  and 
composed  disposition,  he  gradually  improved.  Penitent,  prayer- 
ful, resigned,  he  said  he  enjoyed  religion,  and  seemed  to  enjoy 
a  well-grounded  hope.  "  You  have  received  seven  wounds  to 
save  your  country ;  Christ  received  five  to  save  the  world.  If 
you  look  to  him,  he  will  save  you."  I  preached  to  him  and  his 
ward  often,  warning  them  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come,  and  accept 
of  the  great  salvation.  At  my  last  interview  with  him,  he  said, 
"  I  still  pray  and  trust  in  the  Lord."  He  was  gaining  strength 
and  improving,  when  I  left  him  with  his  seven  scars  of  honor. 

"I  CAN  AFFORD  TO  SUFFER," 

Said  JUDSON  SPALDING,  10th  N.  Y.  Art.,  Co.  H,  as  we  talked 
about  Jesus  and  his  prospects  of  heaven.  He  seemed  to  be  rooted 
and  grounded  in  love,  and,  blessed  with  patience,  said,  "  I  can 


204  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

afford  to  suffer,  since  Christ  has  suffered  so  much  for  me.  I  trust 
in  him,  and  he  is  all  my  hope."  "  I  am  very  glad  to  find  you 
in  your  sufferings  looking  unto  Jesus,  who,  for  the  joy  that  was 
set  before  him,  endured  the  cross  with  such  perfect  resignation. 
Since  the  immaculate  Son  of  God  suffered  and  died  for  us,  well 
may  we  afford  to  suffer  and  die  for  him  and  for  our  country.  If 
you  grow  impatient  while  suffering,  go  to  Calvary,  and  learn  of 
Jesus  how  to  bear  it.  Think  of  the  heroic  martyr  dying  at  the 
stake  rather  than  turn  traitor  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  And  when 
called  to  suffer,  it  will  help  us  to  bear  it  patiently  to  remem- 
ber that  Jesus  Christ,  who  hath  gone  before  us  as  our  example, 
'  hath  borne  our  griefs  and  carried  our  sorrows ; '  so  that  if  we 
suffer  with  him,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him  in  glory.  'No 
cross,  no  crown.'  Jesus,  filled  with  compassion,  even  prayed 
for  his  own  murderers  on  the  cross,  and  cried,  '  Father,  forgive 
them ;  for  they  know  not  what  they  do/  " 

A  HAPPY,  SHOUTING  SOLDIER. 

"  I  have  God  in  my  heart,  Christ  in  my  soul,  and  heaven  for 
my  home,"  said  PETER  JONES,  36th  U.  S.,  Co.  B,  colored,  as  he 
related  his  experience.  "  You  seem  to  be  very  happy,  Peter  ?  " 
"Yes,  thank  God,  chaplain;  I  am  happy."  "  When  were  you 
converted  ?  "  "  Last  March."  "  Where  ?  "  "  At  Point  of  Rocks, 
Va.  I  rose  up  about  three  o'clock,  got  out  of  bed,  and  shouted 
glory  to  God  for  nearly  an  hour.  The  nurse  tried  to  hold  me, 
but  when  they  saw  that  I  was  not  out  of  my  head,  they  let  me 
go."  " Think  you  have  God  in  your  heart?"  "  Yes,  I  have  no 
doubt  of  it,"  "  Do  you  feel  like  holding  on  ?  "  "  Yes ;  by  the 
grace  of  God,  I  mean  to  stand  fast."  "  It  is  all  of  grace.  Christ 
says,  '  Without  me,  ye  can  do  nothing ; '  but  if  you  trust  in  him, 
he  will  give  you  grace  to  conquer.  With  God  in  your  heart,  and 
Christ  in  your  soul,  you  must  be  very  rich,  Peter."  "  I  suppose 
I  must  be  rich,  chaplain,  yet  I  feel  very  poor  and  weak."  "  Christ 
says,  '  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit.'  And  with  all  your  as- 
surance, Peter,  let  me  say  to  you,  beware,  watch,  and  pray.  Our 
hearts  are  very  deceitful.  God  says,  '  Let  him  that  thinketh  lie 


CHRISTIANITY    IX    THE    WAR.  205 

stundeth,  take  heed  lest  he  fall/  The  boasting  Apostle  Peter 
thought  he  could  stand  everything;  yet  he  trembled  before  a  little 
maid,  and  thrice  denied  his  Master  with  cursing  and  swearing. 
May  God  bless  you,  Peter." 

"I  WOULD  LIKE  TO  BE  A  CHRISTIAN,  IF  I  COULD  KEEP  IT," 

Said  ABRAHAM  WEED,  58th  Pa.,  Co.  E,  as  we  besought  him 
to  be  reconciled  to  God.  Anxious  and  hopeful,  he  said,  "  I  have 
quit  swearing  pretty  muSh;  and  I  would  like  to  have  religion, 
if  I  could  keep  it."  "  First  attend  to  getting  it,  and  never  fear 
losing  it.  If  you  only  get  it,  the  Lord  will  help  and  enable 
you  to  keep  it.  We  are  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through  faith 
unto  salvation.  Jesus  Christ  is  mighty  to  save,  able  to  save  unto 
the  uttermost.  Only  trust  in  him,  and  he  will  be  as  a  wall  of 
fire  round  about  you,  and  keep  you  as  the  apple  of  his  eye,  and 
make  all  things  work  together  for  your  good,  and  let  no  evil  touch 
thee.  For  he  says,  '  When  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I 
will  be  with  thee ;  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  over- 
flow thee:  When  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt  not 
be  burned,  neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee.'  Only  em- 
brace Christ  and  cling  to  him,  and  there  is  no  danger  of  losing 
him."  With  a  tender,  smitten"  heart,  he  wept  as  we  urged  him 
to  go  to  Jesus.  "  Come  to  him  now,  just  as  you  are,  and  he  will 
forgive  your  sins,  save  your  soul,  and  be  with  you  always  to 
guide,  guard,  sustain,  bless,  and  comfort  you."  He  died  May 
27,  1865. 

"  I  CAN'T  LIVE  WITHOUT  PRAYER." 

GEORGE  E.  CLEVELAND,  5th  N.Y.  Cavalry,  Co.  F,  at  our  first 
interview,  seemed  to  be  a  decided  Christian.  He  said,  "  All  my 
hope  is  in  God ; "  "I  have  much  faith  in  prayer ; "  " Christ  was 
all  my  hope  while  in  prison,"  and  "I  believed  that  he  would 
bring  me  home."  He  was  much  given  to  prayer ;  he  said,  "  I 
think  I  could  not  live  through  the  night  without  it."  "  I  suppose 
your  religion  gave  you  strong  consolation  in  Andersonville,  amid 
so  much  suffering,  starvation,  and  death  ?  "  "  Oh,  yes ;  it  was  a 


206  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

great  comfort."  "  How  very  encouraging  to  find  you  indulging 
such  a  strong  hope  '  in  Him  who  is  our  only  hope.'  We  are  pri- 
soners of  hope.  Hope  is  the  anchor  of  the  soul.  God  is  our 
refuge  and  strength ;  a  very  present  help  in  trouble.  Jesus  says, 
'  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always/  "  He  lived  till  April  16,  1865,  when 
death  severed  the  vital  cord,  and  his  hope,  we  trust,  was  lost  in 
full  fruition. 

"  THE  LORD  IS  MINE," 

Uttered  HENRY  A.  LATHROP,  8th.  Conn.,  Co.  I,  in  a  low, 
feeble  tone,  as  he  was  standing  upon  the  brink  of  eternity,  while 
I  was  trying  to  point  him  to  the  blessed  Saviour.  He  was  too 
weak  to  talk  but  little ;  it  was  too  late  to  get  his  history.  Al- 
though apparently  seized  with  death,  he  was  able  to  say,  "  I  am 
happy  I"  "I  want  nothing."  " I  feel  that ' the  Lord  is  mine, 
and  all  is  well/  "  How  very  comprehensive,  and  how  clearly 
those  few  sentences  evince  the  gracious  state !  With  the  love  of 
Christ  shed  abroad  in  his  heart,  and  the  Spirit  bearing  witness, 
the  brave  Christian  soldier  rises  above  all  doubts,  and  to  the 
waiting  crowd  announces  his  dying  words,  "  I  am  happy,  and 
'  all  is  well.' "  There,  with  the  grave  yawning  to  engulf  him, 
and  Jesus  waiting  to  receive  him,  having  given  his  life  for  his 
country,  and  now  grappling  with. death,  he  is  enabled  to  say  with 
a  decided  though  weak  tone  of  voice,  "  The  Lord  is  mine."  How 
great  the  loss  !  how  incomparably  rich  the  gain  !  Life  is  lost,  but 
heaven  is  gained !  How  sweet  and  consoling  the  language  of 
assurance,  "  My  Beloved  is  mine,  and  I  am  his !  "  Ownership 
in  God ;  and  it  is  mutual — "  The  Lord  is  mine,  and  I  am  his !  " 
How  rich  the  inheritance  "  All  things  are  yours  !  "  hence,  "  All 
is  well."  A  death  message  is  sad  news  to  send  home  to  weeping 
friends ;  but  when  accompanied  with  stich  a  happy,  triumphant 
death,  when  "  all  is  well ! "  it  soothes  the  sorrows  and  calms 
the  troubled  breast.  He  expired  September  29;  1864. 

"I  CAN'T  PRAY," 

Said  CHARLES  A.  HINKLE,  130th  Ohio,  Co.  D,  as  we  urged 
him  to  pray  and  repent.  "  Did  you  ever  try  to  pray  ?  "  "  No ; 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  207 

I  never  felt  like  praying,  and  never  tried  it."  "  I  hope  you 
have  a  praying  mother  ?  "  "  No ;  I  am  of  a  prayerless  family." 
"  Do  you  swear  ?  "  "  No ;  I  never  swear.  I  go  to  church,  and 
try  to  live  a  moral  life."  "  Morality  is  very  important,  but  it  is 
not  enough.  You  need  not  swear,  lie,  or  get  drunk,  or  murder, 
in  order  to  be  lost ;  no,  only  neglect  salvation,  and  you  will  be 
lost  sure.  *  How  shall  ye  escape,  if  ye  neglect  so  great  a  salva- 
tion ? '  '  Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish/  You 
must  turn,  or  die ;  believe,  or  be  lost.  .You  say  you  'can't  pray ; ' 
you  can,  if  you  will !  Prayer  is  very  simple.  It  is  asking  God 
for  what  you  want  in  Christ's  name.  Do  you  want  to  be  saved  ?  " 
"  Yes."  "  Then  ask  God  for  salvation,  and  he  will  save  you. 
'Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive.'"  "But  I  don't  know  how!" 
"Ask  God  to  teach  you.  Pray,  '  Lord,  teach  me  how  to  pray ; ' 
pray,  like  the  publican,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner ; '  pray, 
like  sinking  Peter,  '  Lord,  save  me ! '  Will  you  try  it  ? " 
"  Yes."  "  The  Lord  help  and  bless  you." 


"I  FOUND  JESUS." 

REUBEN  ALEXANDER,  29th  U.  S.,  Co.  D,  was  a  man  of  bright 
talents,  and  fluent  in  conversation.  He  was  wounded  in  his  left 
arm,  and  possessed  much  firmness  and  decision  of  character.  On 
canvassing  his  heart,  he  said,  "  I  have  been  converted  eleven  years ; 
and  although  I  have  enjoyed  much  comfort  in  religion,  I  still 
want  more  and  more  :  I  am  never  satisfied."  "  What  were  the 
circumstances  of  your  conversion  ?  "  "  My  father,  mother,  and 
brothers  were  sold  from  me,  and  I  wondered  where  I  'd  get 
more  good  friends.  An  old  man  told  me  of  Jesus.  I  prayed  to 
him,  *  Lord,  Lord,  LORD,  have  mercy  on  me ! '  God  heard  my 
prayers,  and  I  found  Jesus,  and  then  I  had  glory  in  my  cabin. 
And,  oh,  I  was  so  happy  then  !  God  has  been  very  good  to  me." 
"  Do  you  ever  backslide  ?  "  "  No ;  me  never  backslide.  I  clings 
to  Jesus,  watch  and  pray."  He  seemed  to  be  an  earnest  Christian, 
with  clear  views  of  the  plan  of  salvation.  He  said,  "  To  be  a  Chris- 
tian and  live  it  out,  we  must  plough  deep  and  plough  straight." 
11  That  is  so/'  [  said;  "it  requires  close  watching  and  straight 


208  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

walking.  The  Lord  says,  '  Love  mercy,  deal  justly,  and  walk 
worthy/  '  Do  unto  others  as  you  would  have  them  do  unto  you/ 
Be  faithful;  keep  your  lamp  trimmed  and  burning,  and  be  a 
burning,  a  shining  light.  May  God  bless  you/' 

"I  LEAVE  IT  ALL  WITH  THE  LORD." 

On  approaching  PHIL  CORTEGE,  19th  U.  S.,  Co.  C,  lying  on 
his  bed,  I  asked  him  how  he  did.  He  said,  "  I  suffer,  and  am 
sick  for  want  of  food."  He  seemed  discouraged,  and  said,  "  I 
don't  expect  ever  to  get  out  of  this  till  I  am  carried  out  on  a 
stretcher."  I  said  to  him, "'Be  of  good  courage,  and  God  will 
strengthen  your  heart/  (Ps.  xxvii.  14.)  Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled;  be  of  good  cheer.  Only  believe,  and  God  will  make 
all  things — all  these  trials,  deprivations,  wounds,  and  afflictions — 
work  together  for  your  good.  Do  you  trust  in  the  Lord  ?  "  "  Yes ; 
I  trust  in  him.  I  leave  it  all  with  the  Lord."  He  seemed  to  be  very 
honest,  penitent,  and  humble,  and  yet  how  resigned.  Prostrated 
upon  a  sick-bed,  away  from  home,  and  with  a  deep,  anxious  care 
for  his  dear  wife  and  children,  with  a  heroic  patience  he  said,  "  I 
leave  it  all  to  the  Lord."  And  the  manner  in  which  he  said  it 
added  much  to  the  resignation  conveyed.  It  was  a  voluntary  ex- 
pression of  his  submission  to  God's  will,  and  a  mark  of  very  high 
Christian  attainment  in  weeping  Philip.  " Do  you  pray ? "  "I 
prays  all  de  time.  I  makes  praying  my  business."  He  said  he  had 
served  God  twenty-four  years,  and  appeared  to  be  a  decided 
Christian.  I  pointed  him  to  the  consolations  of  the  cross,  and  he 
soon  got  well.  John  Fletcher  received  on  his  death-bed  such  a 
manifestation  of  the  full  meaning  of  the  words,  God  is  love,  he  said, 
"  It  fills  my  heart  every  moment,"  and  he  exclaimed,  "  Shout, 
shout  aloud."  His  last  words  were,  "  I  leave  it  all  to  God." 

A  SWEARER  BROUGHT  TO  TEARS. 

It  was  on  a  warm  afternoon,  July  24,  1864,  while  visiting 
ward  No.  26,  I  heard  a  man  groaning  from  pain  occasioned  by 
his  wound  being  dressed.  We  were  all  strangers.  As  I  ap- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  209 

preached  his  tent,  in  the  presence  of  a  kind  mother,  whose  son 
lay  by  her  side,  shot  in  the  head,  this  groaning  man  swore  aw- 
fully. I  spoke  of  his  swearing  in  his  presence,  and  went  away. 
Presently,  the  anxious  mother  requested  me  to  talk  to  her 
wounded  son  about  his  salvation.  She  wept  and  I  wept.  After 
visiting  and  reading  and  praying  with  a  few  suiferiug  boys  in 
another  tent,  I  returned  to  see  this  swearing  man;  and  after 
a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  he  gave  me  his  religious  experience. 
Said  he  had  been  in  a  revival,  and  was  put  down  for  baptism, 
but  ran  off  before  his  turn  came.  On  telling  him  of  his  wicked- 
ness, and  beseeching  him  to  repent,  and  flee  the  wrath  to  come, 
he  apologized  for  his  profanity.  Turning  from  him,  I  began  to 
talk  of  the  joys  of  heaven  to  the  next  poor  sick  fellow,  whose 
brother  John  was  waiting  on  him,  and  he  requested  me  to  pray 
for  him;  and  his  brother  burst  into  tears  and  wept  like  a  child. 
As  I  rose  from  prayer,  we  found  the  great  swearer  all  bathed  in 
tears.  James  wept,  and  as  John  bade  him  farewell,  he  hoped, 
if  they  met  no  more  on  earth,  to  meet  in  heaven.  It  was  really 
a  time  of  refreshing.  Sailing  round  to  New  York  with  a  ship- 
load of  patients,  I  met  James  again;  and  he  was  so  glad  and 
thankful,  he  warmly  and  affectionately  kissed  my  hand,  as  he  lay 
upon  his  back,  unable  to  set  up.  The  soldier  wounded  in  the 
head,  accompanied  with  his  parents,  went  orr  the  same  ship  to 
New  York,  and  got  worse,  and  when  his  weeping  mother  asked 
permission  to  take  him  to  the  City  Hospital,  the  surgeon  refused 
her  request.  It  seemed  very  hard.  I  supposed  he  died  soon 
after. 

14 


210  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 


CHAPTER  XY. 

SKETCHES    OF   SOLDIERS CONTINUED. 

.'HE  BOMB-PROOF  PRAYER-MEETING — "ARE  You  KEADYTOG'O?" — 
LITTLE  LIZZIE'S  LETTER — "I  PRAYED  IN  THE  STREET" — "I  LOVE 
EVERYBODY" — "I  HAVE  NO  FEAR"  — SERGEANT  JAMES  TUSTISON: 
" I  AM  DYING,  BUT  I  AM  VERY  HAPPY "  —  "I  HAVE  GOT  IT ! " — 
SATAN  EEPULSED  BY  PRAYER — "  HELL  SEEMS  TO  BE  GAPING  FOB 
ME "  —  "I  AM  HAPPY  IN  THE  LORD "  —  " CONVERTED  IN  THE  ARMY 
THROUGH  SIN"  —  "Do  You  TRUST  IN  THE  LORD?"  —  "URGE  HIM 
TO  COME  TO  JESUS" — "  THANK  GOD  FOR  MY  WOUND  "  —  SERGEANT 
DWIGHT  KNEELAND  :  "  MY  WORK  is  DONE  "  —  DIED  CALLING 
FOR  THE  CHAPLAIN  —  "JUST  AS  GOD  WISHES"  —  "TELL  MY 
MOTHER  I  DIED  HAPPY"  —  "Ir  is  EASIER  TO  SERVE  SATAN"  — 
"  I  AM  BETTER  IN  THE  ARMY  THAN  AT  HOME  "  —  WILLIAM  J. 
JOHNSON,  142o  N.  Y.,  Co.  D  — "  ALL  is  WELL"  — "OLD  JACOB," 
THE  GRAVE-DIGGER  —  "  THE  BIBLE  BETTER  THAN  GREENBACKS  " 
— "  SOMEHOW  IT  WORKED  UPON  ME  " — "  GOD  STILL  STICKS  TO  ME  " — 
"O  CHAPLAIN,  WHAT  WILL  I  Do?"  — "I  AM  ON  THE  DEVIL'S 
SIDE  "  —  "  PRAY  FOR  ME,  CHAPLAIN,  TILL  I  DIE  : "  His  BEREAVED 
WIFE'S  LETTER  —  "  I  WOULD  AS  SOON  GO  TO  MY  HEAVENLY  HOME  " 
—  "  I  AM  Too  WICKED  TO  COME  TO  JESUS  "  —  "  GOD  GRABBED  ME 
INTO  His  HEART  AT  ONCE "  —  "I  PRAYED  ON,  AND  GOD  CHANGED 
MY  HEART  "  —  "  THE  DEVIL  COAXED  ME  OFF." 


THE    BOMB-PROOF  PRAYER-MEETING. 

AS  a  number  of  the  delegates  of  the  U.  S.  Christian  Commis- 
sion were  passing  by  Fort  Albany,  then  guarded  by  the 
14th  Mass.  Volunteers,  one  of  the  brave  boys  said  to.  them, 
"  Look  here!  "  (pointing  to  a  deep  hole  in  the  ground ;)  "  what  is 
that  ?  "  "  It 's  the  bomb-proof,  where  we  hold  our  daily  prayer- 
meetings,  down  twelve  feet  under  ground."  "  Do  any  come?" 
"Oh,  yes;  sixty  or  more."  "Do  you  find  the  Saviour  there?" 
"  Yes ;  we  find  him  here  as  well  as  at  home."  "  So  you  go  down 
to  get  up  ?"  "  Yes;  and  that  is  one  of  God's  fixed,  unalterable 
laws,  '  We  must  go  down  to  get  up ; '  for  God  says,  '  Before 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  211 

honor  is  humility/  and  '  He  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be 
exalted.'  Christ  was  exalted  to  heaven  'because  he  humbled 
himself,  and  became  *  obedient  unto  death/  (Phil.  ii.  8,  9.)  So 
it  is  with  all  of  us ;  we  must  humble  ourselves,  if  we  would  be 
exalted ;  if  we  would  ever  reach  the  joys  of  heaven,  we  must  start 
at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  And  do  you  get  very  high,  and  draw 
very  near  to  God,  down  there  ? "  "  Yes,  sir ;  and  when  we  meet 
down  there,  we  come  away  strengthened  and  refreshed,  and  feel 
that  it  was  good  to  be  there."  "I  suppose  you  all  flee  down 
there  when  the  rebel  balls  and  shells  fall  thick  around  you  ? " 
"  Yes,  that  is  our  refuge  in  time  of  extreme  peril.  But  when 
the  devil,  the  first  great  rebel,  shoots  his  fiery  darts,  we  can't  find 
refuge  in  bomb-proofs,  forts,  or  behind  earth-works,  because  he 
can  very  easily  shoot  his  poisonous  darts  through  all  these.  No 
refuge  from  him  is  found  but  in  the  cleft-rock,  Christ  Jesus,  the 
believer's  only  stronghold  of  defence  and  protection."  (;  I  sup- 
pose when  the  balls  and  shells  fly  thicker,  and  the  danger 
becomes  greater,  you  plead  harder  for  deliverance  ?  "  "  Yes ; 
realized  danger  tends  to  help  us  to  divest  ourselves  of  self,  and 
to  draw  us  nearer  to  God.  The  'greater  our  sense  of  want, 
the  harder  we  can  plead  for  help.  Hence,  nothing  but  great 
emergencies  will  develop  and  draw  out  the  latent  powers  of  the 
soul.  When  were  the  grandest  exploits  of  military  genius  dis- 
played ?  Under  some  great  pressing  emergency,  when  the  glories 
of  victory,  or  the  salvation  of  the  country,  hung  upon  the  decision 
of  an  hour  and  the  action  of  a  moment.  When  were  the  greatest 
and  most  eloquent  speeches  delivered  ?  Under  some  very  great 
crisis,  involving  the  interests  of  nations  and  the  destiny  of  the 
world.  When  were  the  most  earnest  and  powerful  prayers  put 
forth?  Under  some  pre-eminently  great  emergency  involving 
the  redemption  of  a  kingdom  and  the  salvation  of  the  world. 
Where,  we  ask,  was  Jacob,  when  he  plead  with  that  intense 
importunity  and  assured  confidence  that  enabled  him  to  exclaim, 
'  I  will  not  let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me  ? '  He  was  in  a  case 
of  imminent  danger,  with  his  life  exposed  to  the  direful  revenge 
of  his  incensed  brother,  whom  he  was  going  to  meet  When 
did  the  devoted  Daniel  plead  with  such  wonderful  assurance  and 


212  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

power,  that  his  prayer  was  heard  even  while  he  was  yet  speaking 
and  praying;  what  were  his  circumstances?  It  was  when  he 
was  deeply  concerned  for  the  deliverance  of  the  captive  hosts  of 
Israel.  It  was  there,  while  pouring  out  his  soul  and  heart  unto 
God,  crying,  'O  Lord,  hear!  O  Lord,  forgive!  O  Lord, 
hearken  and  do !  defer  not,  for  thine  own  sake,  O  my  God/  that 
the  angel  flew  from  heaven,  and  announced  that  the  decree  had 
gone  forth  liberating  the  Jewish  captives.  What  were  the 
circumstances  that  gave  rise  to  the  Saviour's  agonizing  prayer  in 
the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  which  brought  the  bloody  sweat  from 
every  pore,  and  led  him  to  exclaim,  '  Father,  if  thy  will,  let  this 
cup  pass  from  me ! '  Whence  this  most  intense  importunity  and 
anguish  of  soul?  It  is  the  preparation  for  the  agonies  of  the 
cross.  Jesus  is  going  to  Calvary,  and  feeling  the  billows  of 
God's  wrath  rising  about  him,  and  realizing  the  fierce  conflict 
before  him  in  working  out  our  salvation,  he  goes  to  God,  and 
prays  for  sustaining  grace.  Where,  we  ask,  was  the  dying  thief, 
when  he  offered  up  that  effectual  prayer  that  snatched  his  soul 
from  a  yawning  hell,  and  landed  it  safe  in  heaven  ?  He  was 
hanging  upon  the  cross,  in  the  very  agony  of  death,  and  with 
the  flames  of  eternal  fire  kindling  at  his  feet,  in  the  most  extreme 
peril.  There  he  hangs ;  and,  standing  upon  the  pivot  of  the 
eternal  world,  feeling  that  it  is  the  last  opportunity,  that  it  will 
soon  be  salvation  or  damnation,  he  earnestly  prays,  'Jesus, 
Lord,  remember  me ! '  and  his  soul,  plucked  from  the  jaws  of 
Satan  and  washed  in  the  Saviour's  blood,  went  home  to  heaven  !" 
I  heard  a  soldier  say  he  could  pray  better  while  facing  the  rebel 
cannon's  mouth.  Thus  we  see  that,  when  we  are  closely  pressed 
and  more  fully  feel  our  dependence  upon  God,  the  more  earnestly 
we  can  pray.  "  So,  I  suppose,  when  the  balls  and  shells  fall  thick 
around  you,  you  draw  nearer  to  God,  and  pray  more  fervently, 
than  when  all  is  peace  ?  "  "  Yes,  chaplain,  that 's  so." 

"  ARE  YOU  READY  TO  GO  ?  " 

Although  over  three  hundred  thousand  loyal  patriots  tasted 
death  during  the  rebellion,  yet  many  more    have  fallen  since 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  213 

from  wounds  inflicted  and  diseases  contracted  during  the  war. 
To  fight  and  die  on  the  gory  field,  in  putting  down  treason,  even 
when  crowned  with  victory,  is  hard.  To  get  sick  or  wounded, 
and  linger  and  suffer  severely  for  mouths,  and  then  die  in  the 
hospital,  far  away  from  friends  and  from  home,  is  harder ;  but 
to  linger  and  suffer  for  years  from  wounds  received,  or  diseases 
contracted  in  the  service,  and  then  die,  seems  harder  still.  Such 
was  the  fate  of  Samuel  S.  Brown,  late  member  of  the  3d  Reg. 
Ohio  Cavalry,  Co.  B,  who  entered  the  service  of  his  country, 
January  1, 1864,  and  after  enduring  much  hardness  in  Sherman's 
memorable  campaign,  contracted  a  severe  cold  at  the  long  and 
bloody  siege  of  Atlanta,  through  exposure  to  the  weather,  from 
the  effects  of  which  he  never  recovered.  Having  served  his 
country  a  little  over  a  year,  and  being  unable  to  serve  longer, 
he  was  honorably  discharged  February  8, 1865,  when  he  returned 
home  to  his  father's  house  in  Cardington,  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  and  died  February  14,  1868,  aged 
.twenty-three  years  and  three  months.  Born  and  brought  up  by 
religious  parents,  he  received  a  religious  training,  which  seemed 
to  have  resulted  in  his  conversion.  Quiet  and  unassuming  in  his 
disposition,  he  was  warmly  attached  and  strongly  devoted  to  his 
parents.  Although  he  suffered  long,  he  bore  it  all  very  patiently. 
Not  a  murmur  was  heard  to  fall  from  his  lips.  And  when  ap- 
proached by  a  brother  upon  the  subject  of  religon,  shortly  before 
he  died,  he  seemed  calm  and  collected,  and  gave  good  evidence 
of  being  at  peace  with  God.  When  asked,  "  Do  you  trust  in 
Jesus ?  "  He  replied,  "  Yes,  and  have  for  some  time."  "  Would  you 
be  afraid  to  die ?  "  "  No."  "  Are  you  ready  to  go ?"  "  Yes;  and 
the  sooner  the  better."  "  The  sooner  the  better  ?"  "  Yes ! "  "  How 
glorious  the  attainment !  Dying  for  your  country,  and  dying  in 
the  Lord.  Not  only  ready,  but,  like  Paul,  even  longing  to  de- 
part. Waiting  to  hear  the  summons,  '  Come  up  higher/  Wait- 
ing to  bid  farewell  to  this  sinful  world  of  troubles,  conflict,  and 
trials.  Waiting  to  lay  aside  this  vile  body,  to  go  and  dwell  with 
the  ransomed  of  the  Lord  in  heaven.  To  be  ready  to  go  when 
your  country  calls  to  defend  her  honor,  is  glorious.  To  be  ready  to 
go  when  the  command,  "  charge"  is  given  in  the  heat  of  battle,  is 


214  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

glorious.  But  to  be  ready  to  go,  when  it  comes  ours  to  die.  is 
more  glorious.  Victory  achieved  over  the  enemy  on  the  field 
of  battle  is  glorious,  but  victory  achieved  over  the  last  enemy, 
death,  is  the  most  glorious  of  all  victories.  To  be  able  to  face 
the  king  of  terrors,  gazing  into  the  eternal  world,  and  be  able 
to  say,  'O  death,  where  is  thy  sting?'  is  the  very  acme  of  per- 
fection on  earth."  Mr.  Brown  lived  but  a  short  time  after  the 
above  conversation,  and  during  his  last  hours  his  voice  was  heard 
in  prayer.  Be  ye  also  ready. 

LITTLE  LIZZIE'S  LETTER. 

PHILADELPHIA,  April  17,  186?,. 

MY  DEAR  SOLDIER: — I  send  you  a  little  Testament.  I  am 
a  little  girl  seven  years  old.  I  want  to  do  something  for  the 
soldiers  who  do  so  much  for  us;  so  I  have  saved  my  pocket 
money  to  send  you  this.  Although  I  have  never  seen  you,  I 
intend  to  begin  to  pray  that  God  will  make  and  keep  you  good. 
Oh,  how  sorry  I  am  that  you  have  to  leave  your  dear  mother. 
Did  she  cry  when  you  bade  her  good-by?  Don't  you  often 
think  of  her  at  night  when  you  are  going  to  bed?  Do  you 
kneel  down  and  say  your  prayers?  If  I  were  you,  I  would  not 
care  if  the  other  soldiers  did  laugh  :  God  will  smile  upon  you. 
I  am  sorry,  very  sorry,  that  you  are  sick.  I  wish  that  I  could 
go  to  nurse  you.  I  could  bathe  your  head,  and  read  to  you.  Do 
you  know  the  hymn, — 

"  There  is  a  happy  land  ?  " 

I  hope  you  will  go  to  that  land  when  you  die.  But  remember, 
I  will  pray  that  you  may  get  well  again. 

When  you  are  able  to  sit  up,  I  wish  you  to  write  to  me,  and 
tell  me  all  about  your  troubles. 

Enclosed  you  will  find  a  postage-stamp.     I  live  at  No. 

North  Ninth  Street,  Philadelphia.     Good-by. 

Your  Friend,  LIZZIE  S . 

Lizzie's  letter  and  the  Testament  she  sent  proved  the  means 
of  the  soldier's  salvation  who  received  them. 

NASHVILLE,  TENN.,  April  24,  1863. 

DEAR  SISTER  LIZZIE:  —  I  received  your  kind  letter  from 
Mr.  C.  I.  M.  A  beautiful  present  indeed,  and  I  trust  it  will  be 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  215 

one  of  the  means  of  converting  others,  as  well  as  the  receiver. 
May  God  bless  the  giver.  You  have  done  a  good  work.  Con- 
tinue to  pray,  dear  sister,  and  God  will  answer  you.  He  says  so 
in  his  wor.d. 

My  dear  mother  is  in  the  grave.  It  is  nearly  eleven  years 
since  she  died ;  but  she  died  happy ;  and  I  trust  I  shall  meet  her 
in  heaven.  I  will  try  and  pray  for  myself.  Have  been  in  the 
hospital  four  months,  but  am  now  nearly  well ;  will  be  able  to 
join  my  regiment  to  face  the  enemy ;  and  if  I  should  fall  on  the 
battle-field,  I  may  have  the  blessed  assurance  of  meeting  my 
Saviour  in  peace. 

Yes,  "  there  is  a  happy  land."  May  we  meet  in  that  happy 
land.  I  do  not  think  that  my  fellow-soldiers  will  deter  me  from 
serving  my  Master.  There  are  many  others  here  that  his  Spirit 
is  striving  with. 

I  expect  to  go  home  to  see  my  dear  friends  once  more.  Am 
very  thankful  that  the  privilege  is  granted,  and  I  trust  we  shall 
have  a  happy  meeting.  Dear  Lizzie,  I  must  close.  May  God 
bless  you,  is  my  prayer.  Write  me  again. 

Address  your  friend,  S.  L.  N., 

Fourth  Mich.  Cavalry,  Nashville,  Tenn. 


"  I  PRAYED  IN  THE  STREET." 

"  Man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity."  Coming  to  Christ  is 
the  sinner's  last  resort.  Blinded  by  sin  and  deceived  by  Satan, 
man,  lost,  will  go  to  a  thousand  refuges  before  he  will  flee  to  the 
safe  one ;  and  it  is  only  when  he  finds  that  all  other  refuges  are, 
in  the  language  of  the  prophet,  "  refuges  of  lies,"  that  he  flees  to 
Christ,  "  the  only  stronghold."  In  canvassing  the  heart  of  Charles 
A.  Morton,  7th  N.  H.,  Co.  K,  we  found  him  much  interested  in 
religion,  at  our  first  interview.  He  seemed  to  be  indulging  a 
bright  hope,  and  said  he  had  been  converted  in  a  revival.  He 
appeared  to  have  been  powerfully  wrought  upon  by  the  Spirit; 
and  said  he,  "  I  became  so  earnestly  engaged  in  seeking  Christ, 
that  I  prayed  in  the  street,  and  afterward  I  felt  so  different 
that  I  went  home  and  told  my  wife."  "When  an  anxious  sinner 
is  brought  to  feel  his  awful  exposure  to  endless  woe,  and  to  realize 
his  own  helplessness  and  utter  dependence  upon  God  for  salva- 
tion, it  is  perfectly  natural  and  reasonable  to  fly  to  God  in  prayer 


216  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

immediately,  even  '  on  the  street/  or,  like  sinking  Peter,  '  on  the 
water.'  The  interests  involved  are  so  vast,  and  the  emergency  is 
so  great,  he  can't  watt ;  he  must  pray ;  he  can't  help  it ;  and  it 
is  in  just  such  emergencies  as  these  that  the  most  powerful  and 
effectual  prayers  have  been  offered  up.  I  suppose  when  you 
prayed  in  the  street,  you  felt  that  you  could  not  wait  till  you  got 
home  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  felt  such  a  pressing  necessity,  that  I  could 
not  wait."  "  Under  that  state  of  feeling,  how  easy,  and,  oh,  what 
a  great  privilege,  it  is  to  pray  !  How  have  you  felt  since?"  "I 
feel  much  altered,  and  happy."  "Regeneration  is  a  great  change 
—  a  change  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan 
unto  God.  In  it,  the  old  man  is  put  off  and  the  new  put  on ; 
old  things  pass  away,  and  all  things  become  new;  so  that  when  a 
man  undergoes  it,  he  will  '  feel  much  altered/  as  you  say.  And 
although  many  Christians  can't  tell  the  precise  time,  place,  and 
circumstances  of  their  conversion,  yet  they  will  know  something 
about  it.  Others  profess  to  know  all  about  the  circumstances, 
the  time  when  and  the  place  where  the  great  change,  wrought  by 
God's  Spirit,  was  brought  about.  And  how  can  we  know  it  ? 
Love  to  the  brethren  is  one  distinguishing  mark.  Hereby  '  we 
know  that  we  have  passed  from  death  unto  life,  because  we  love 
the  brethren.'  c  He  that  loveth  not  his  brother,  abideth  in  death.' 
Another  evidence  is  secret  prayer : 

'Prayer  is  the  Christian's  vital  breath, 

The  Christian's  native  air; 
His  watchword  at  the  gate  of  death: 
He  enters  heaven  with  prayer.' 

If  a  man  has  experienced  a  change  of  heart,  he  will  feel  so  grate- 
ful to  God  that  he  will  often  repair  to  his  closet,  and  thank  the 
Lord  for  the  great  things  he  has  done  for  him.  David  prayed 
three  times  a  day.  The  Saviour  prayed  all  night ;  and  it  is  said 
John  Welch  prayed  eight  hours  out  of  twenty-four ;  and  that  he 
would  often  rise  at  midnight  and  pour  out  his  soul  to  God  in 
prayer  for  the  people  of  his  congregation.  How  is  it  with  you?" 
"  I  have  been  praying  ever  since  my  conversion.  I  pray  that  my 
arm  may  heal  fast,  and  it  does."  "  You  seem  to  have  strong  faith 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB.  217 

in  prayer  ?  "  "  Oh,  yes,  I  believe  God  answers  prayer.     He  says, 
'  Seek,  and  ye  shall  find.' " 

"  I  LOVE  EVERYBODY." 

It  was  on  a  beautiful  evening,  in  the  summer  of  1865,  in  the 
U.  S.  General  Hospital,  near  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  while  making 
my  daily  calls  with  the  patients,  that  I  fell  into  an  interesting 
conversation  with  R.  Brown,  of  the  7th  Regiment  S.  C.  Cavalry, 
Co.  F.,  confederate  troops.  He  gave  me  a  hearty  welcome  to 
his  bedside,  and  we  found  him  free  to  converse  about  religion 
and  his  own  personal  experience.  He  seemed  to  be  a  decided 
Christian,  not  only  enjoying  a  well-grounded  hope,  but  even  full 
assurance  of  his  acceptance  with  God ;  and,  to  use  his  own  lan- 
guage, he  said,  "  I  know  I  have  passed  from  death  unto  life." 

What  a  glorious  attainment !  It  is  worth  more  than  all  things 
else.  "  How  long  have  you  been  trying  to  serve  the  Lord  ?  " 
"  Some  fifteen  years,"  he  replied.  Touching  his  love  to  Christ, 
he  said,  "I  love  everybody."  "Would  you  be  afraid  to  die?" 
«  No  »  «  t  Perfect  love  casteth  out  fear.'  <  Love  is  the  ful- 
filling of  the  law.'  '  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thy- 
self.' Do  you  love  God's  word?"  "Oh,  yes,"  he  said;  "I 
have  read  my  Testament  through  thirty  times  in  the  army." 
"Do  you  find  it  difficult  to  live  out  religion  in  the  army?" 
"  No ;  I  can  live  as  well  in  the  army  as  out  of  it  ?  "  "  Christ, 
who  is  our  strength,  says,  '  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee ; '  hence 
he  says,  ( No  evil  shall  touch  thee.'  With  God's  Spirit  to  guide 
us,  and  his  everlasting  arms  beneath  us,  we  have  nothing  to 
fear."  I  visited  him  frequently,  and  always  found  him  prayer- 
ful, patient,  and  resigned.  I  heard  not  a  murmur  fall  from  his 
lips.  He  manifested  a  strong  desire  to  see  his  wife.  Administer- 
ing to  him  the  consolations  of  the  gospel,  he  lingered  along,  and 
died  full  of  hope  June  15,  1865. 

"I   HAVE  NO  FEAR." 

In  visiting  the  sick  and  wounded,  we  were  daily  cheered  by 
the  patience  and  heroism  they  manifested.  We  often  found  them 
not  only  resigned,  but  buoyant  and  jovial,  with  hearts  glowing 
with  courage  and  patriotism.  At  my  first  interview  with  John 


218  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Lestur,  38th  U.S.,  Co.  D,  we  found  him  in  patience  possessing  his 
soul;  and  although  severely  wounded,  he  was  jovial  and  lively 
as  a  cricket,  and  yet  full  of  fight.  In  describing  the  hot  fight 
near  Chapin's  Farm,  close  by  Richmond,  he  said,  "  With  my 
finger  shot  almost  off",  while  going  it  at  double  quick,  I  pulled 
out  my  jack-knife,  cut  it  off,  threw  it  down,  went  on,  loaded  and 
fired  eight  or  nine  times  while  charging  the  fort  near  the  above 
place."  Eager  for  victory,  he  said,  "  With  my  bleeding  hand,  I 
mounted  the  fort,  raised  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  fought  on  till 
I  received  a  ball  in  my  thigh,  which  brought  me  down."  "  Were 
you  not  afraid  in  such  a  warm  fight  ? "  "  No ;  I  trust  in  the 
Lord,  and  I  am  not  afraid."  "  You  have  the  right  remedy  for 
fear."  "What?"  "Trust  in  the  Lord— there  is  nothing  equal 
to  it.  David  said,  when  surrounded  with  hosts  of  enemies, 
'  What  time  I  am  afraid,  I  will  trust  in  God.'  Faith  as  a  shield 
is  a  sure  defence  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil  and  all  the  fiery 
darts  of  the  wicked."  He  said,  "  If  I  die,  I  believe  Jesus  will 
save  me."  "  Would  you  not  be  afraid  to  make  another  such 
charge  ?  "  "  Oh,  no ;  I  would  cut  off  another  finger  under  simi- 
lar circumstances.  I  came  out  to  fight  and,  if  need  be,  to  die 
for  God  and  my  country.  I  have  no  fear."  "  No  fear  ?  no  fear 
of  death  ?  "  "  No."  "  '  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting !  Thanks  be  to 
God,  who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ/  " 
How  grand  the  perfection  to  rise  above  all  fear !  Said  the  cele- 
brated Robert  Hall,  in  his  dying  hours,  "  I  fear  pain  more  than 
death ; "  and  he  soon  passed  into  glory,  praying,  "  Come,  Lord 
Jesus,  come  quickly."  Dr.  Taylor  kissed  the  stake  as  he  ap- 
proached it,  and  in  meek  submission  died,  sealing  the  doctrine  he 
taught  with  his  own  blood.  At  our  next  interview,  John  Lestur 
said,  as  I  approached  him,  "  Here  I  am,  waiting  on  the  Lord. 
Had  not  Jesus  been  nigh  my  side,  I  'd  have  died  when  I  got 
wounded."  "  Do  you  think  Jesus  saved  you  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  feel 
so."  "  Christ  is  a  covert  in  the  storm.  The  name  of  the  Lord  is 
a  strong  tower  ;  the  righteous  runneth  therein,  and  they  are  safe. 
The  Lord  is  as  a  wall  of  fire  round  about  them  that  fear  him. 
How  does  the  Saviour  appear  to  you  to-day,  John?"  "He 
seems  dear :  Jesus  is  close  by  my  side,  and  I  am  happy  in  him." 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  219 

"  What  sweet  words !  Happy  in  Jesus !  To  such  there  ia  no  con- 
demnation. And  you  think  you  would  be  willing  to  lose  another 
finger,  *  in  a  pinch/  for  your  country ;  aye,  John  ?"  "  Oh,  yes ; 
the  loss  of  fingers,  legs,  and  lives  is  nothing  to  the  loss  of  our 
country."  Such  courage  and  patriotic  devotion  deserves  great 
praise.  To  see  men  cut  off  a  finger,  load  and  fire  as  they  run, 
charging  a  rebel  fort,  shows  great  pluck  and  bravery.  He  got 
better,  and  was  transferred  North. 

SERGEANT  JAMES   TUSTISON. 

Fired  with  a  lofty  patriotism,  JAMES  TUSTISON  consecrated 
himself  to  the  service  of  his  country  shortly  after  the  outbreak 
of  the  rebellion.  Though  a  native  of  Crawford  County,  Ohio, 
he  moved  to  Iowa  in  1854,  and  at  his  country's  call  enlisted  as 
orderly  sergeant  of  Capt.  Holson's  company,  of  the  Tenth  Reg. 
Iowa  Volunteers,  at  Richmond,  August  24,  1861,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  the  service,  September  6,  at  Iowa  City.  And  as  the 
rebellion  had  not  reached  Iowa,  his  regiment  was  soon  ordered  to 
St.  Louis,  and  before  they  had  time  to  procure  their  uniforms 
there,  they  were  ordered  to  Cape  Girardeau,  where  they  arrived 
October  2.  Time  rolled  on,  and  as  the  rebellion  spread  itself,  the 
noble-hearted  sergeant  met  the  enemy  in  a  severe  skirmish  at 
Charleston,  Mo.;  and  although  he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  come 
out  unhurt  himself,  two  of  his  company  were  killed  and  several 
others  wounded.  At  the  close  of  the  fall  campaign,  his  regiment 
went  into  winter-quarters  at  Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  and  the  sergeant, 
being  unaccustomed  to  camp  life  and  that  very  unhealthy  climate, 
Mas  taken  with  a  severe  attack  of  diarrhoea  early  in  February, 
1862.  And  although  he  had  comfortable  quarters,  they  were 
made  more  comfortable  by  the  graceful  presence  of  his  kind, 
affectionate  wife,  Mrs.  Tustison,  who,  with  her  characteristic 
tenderness,  went  all  the  way  from  home  to  see  him,  and  carefully 
nursed  him  through  all  his  sickness.  Blessed  with  an  early  reli- 
gious training,  he  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  when 
seventeen  years  of  age,  and  by  his  consistent  life  was  an  orna- 
ment to  the  church,  and  adorned  the  doctrines  of  the  cross.  His 


220  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB. 

disease  assumed  the  chronic  form,  and  he  suffered  severely,  yet, 
sustained  by  an  unseen  Hand,  he  bore  it  all  very  patiently.  Not 
a  murmur  was  known  to  fall  from  his  lips.  Failing  so  rapidly, 
and  despairing  of  his  recovery,  on  application  of  his  friends,  he 
was  examined  by  a  board  of  physicians  and  honorably  discharged 
from  the  service,  and,  accompanied  with  his  faithful  wife,  he  bid 
farewell  to  his  regiment  and  started  for  home.  On  arriving  at 
Mattoon,  111.,  he  became  so  feeble  he  was  unable  to  go  any 
further,  and  they  "put  up"  at  a  hotel.  Being  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  upon  (his)  making  himself  known  to 
the  lodge  of  that  place,  they  kindly  assisted  in  taking  care  of 
him.  The  Rev.  Mr.  McFarlan  and  Dr.  Bridges  were  especially 
attentive  in  administering  to  his  wants;  yet,  with  all  their 
attention,  he  grew  worse.  A  few  days  before  his  departure  he 
became  delirious,  but  on  the  evening  ere  he  expired,  his  reason 
was  restored,  and  he  awoke  from  his  unconscious  -state,  wrapped 
in  the  sweet  smiles  of  his  heavenly  Father.  As  the  struggle 
of  death  came  on,  and  fully  conscious  of  the  approach  of  "  the 
last  enemy,"  sustained  by  Him  who  "  hath  abolished  death,"  he 
said,  calm  and  undismayed, 

"l   AM   DYING,   BUT   I   AM   VERY   HAPPY!" 

And  filled  with  filial  affection  in  his  last  moments,  his  thoughts 
fly  home  to  his  mother,  and  wishing  to  leave  her  a  word  of  com- 
fort, the  dying  soldier  said,  among  his  last  words,  "  Tell  my 
mother  that,  when  dying,  my  trust  was  in  Christ." 

Lingering  until  the  afternoon  of  March  27,  1862,  the  wheel 
at  the  cistern  stood  still,  and  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  age,  in 
the  presence  of  his  weeping  wife  and  brother,  his  blood-washed 
soul  left  its  clay  tenement,  and  went,  we  trust,  home  to  swell  the 
ranks  of  the  redeemed  in  heaven.  How  sublime  such  a  death — 
dying  for  his  country,  and  dying  in  the  Lord  !  How  consoling 
to  his  bereaved  wife  and  friends !  Though  your  loss  is  heavy 
and  your  affliction  severe,  yet,  if  you  will  listen,  you  will  hear 
the  soothing  voice  of  the  good  Shepherd  saying  unto  you, 
"  Weep  not ;"  "  be  of  good  cheer."  "  Let  not  your  heart  be  trou- 
bled, for  all  is  well."  "  Be  ye  also  ready !  " 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  221 


"I  HAVE  GOT  IT." 

Having  preached  in  ward  twenty-three,  as  I  was  passing  up 
the  aisle,  Thomas  Warren,  199th  Pa.,  Co.  D,  being  under  deep 
anxiety  of  mind,  called  me  to  him,  and  said,  "  I  want  to  get  reli- 
gion, and  I  want  you  to  pray  for  me."  He  seemed  to  be  very 
anxious,  and  on  telling  him  of  the  goodness  of  God  and  the 
compassion  of  Jesus,  and  of  his  ability  and  willingness  to  save, 
and  urging  him  to  repent  and  pray,  he  began  to  pray,  and  cried, 
"  Lord,  have  mercy  on  me !  Cast  me  not  off!  O  Saviour,  take 
me  now — just  as  I  am !  "  and,  weeping  profusely,  and  praying 
with  intense  earnestness,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  if  I  had  only  reli- 
gion now ! "  He  said  he  had  been  swearing,  but  now  seemed 
deeply  penitent.  Urging  him  to  look  to  Jesus,  I  left  him  all 
stirred  up.  His  severe  wound  became  gangrened,  and  he  was 
taken  to  the  Gangrene  Camp ;  and,  calling  upon  him  there  soon 
after,  he  exclaimed,  "  I  have  got  it !  /  have  got  it !  "  and  clap- 
ping his  hands,  shouted,  "  Glory  to  God !  glory  to  God  !  hallelu- 
jah ! "  Several  gathered  in  to  see  him.  He  said,  "  I  feel  light ; 
a  great  burden  has  rolled  off  of  me."  Upon  my  next  call,  he 
seemed  very  much  changed ;  he  prayed  and  wept  much.  When 
I  left,  he  was  improving. 

SATAN  REPULSED  BY  PRAYER. 

We  found  CHARLES  WILLIAMS,  5th  U.  S.,  Co.  C,  at  the  first, 
prayerful,  humble,  penitent,  anxious,  crying  like  the  trembling 
jailer,  "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ! "  "  When  did  you 
begin  to  pray  ?  "  "  Since  I  got  wounded."  "  How  do  you  feel 
on  the  subject  of  religion?"  "I  feel  that  I  am  a  great  sinner; 
and  I  am  afraid  I  won't  get  through.  The  devil  came  and  told 
me  I  would  be  lost,  if  I  do  trust  in  Christ."  "  Yes ;  but  the 
devil  is  a  liar,  and  you  must  not  believe  a  word  he  says,  nor 
indulge  a  thought  he  suggests.  Mother  Eve  believed  the  devil 
and  disbelieved  God,  and  fell.  Do  you  believe  the  devil?" 
"  No ;  when  he  tempted  me  I  called  on  the  Lord,  and  he  went 
away."  "  So  you  repulsed  the  devil  with  prayer?"  *'  Yes,  he 


222  CHKISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

left  me."  "  That  proves  the  great  power  of  prayer.  You  will 
always  find  it  true,  'resist  the  devil,  and  he  will  flee  from  you.'" 
Calling  upon  him  again,  we  found  him  indulging  a  strong  hope ; 
and  I  said  to  him,  "  Do  you  think  you  are  a  Christian  ?"  "  Yes; 
I  believe  God  has  converted  my  soul ;  and  I  expect  my  wife  won't 
know  me  when  I  go  home,  I  will  be  so  changed."  "  Was  it 
your  wound  that  led  you  to  pray,  which  has  resulted  in  your 
hopeful  conversion  ?  "  "  Yes,  I  believe  it  was."  "  A  stroke  of 
lightning  led  to  the  conversion  of  Martin  Luther,  and  no  doubt 
the  stroke  of  balls  and  shells  has  led  to  the  con  version  of  many  a 
soldier.  Think  you  could  die  happy?"  "Yes;  I  feel  that  I 
could."  "  Be  faithful.  Stand  up  for  the  flag,  and  cling  to  the 
cross  ! " 

"HELL  SEEMS  TO  BE  GAPING  FOR  ME!" 

Exclaimed  JACOB  MULLJNCUP,  13th  Ind.,  Co.  D,ashe  related 
his  religious  experience.  He  seemed  to  be  very  anxious  and 
tender,  but  said  he,  "  T  have  not  followed  Christ ;  but  I  want 
you  to  pray  for  me,"  weeping  profusely.  "  Jesus  Christ  came 
into  the  world  to  save  sinners,  and  died  for  the  ungodly,  just 
such  as  you  are.  He  is  mighty  to  save ;  able  and  willing  to  save, 
even  unto  the  uttermost.  His  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin : 
' Look,  and  live !' "  It  was  on  December  4,  1864,  I  visited  him 
again  at  five  P.M.,  and  found  him  writhing  with  a  deep  sense  of 
his  sins.  "You  seemed  to  have  lived  a  wicked  life?"  "Yes; 
I  have  sworn,  and  done  everything  that 's  bad ;  and  my  mother 
brought  me  up  good."  "  Have  you  ever  been  troubled  with 
skepticism  ?  "  "  Yes ;  but  there  can't  but  be  another  world." 
"  Why,  what  makes  you  think  so  ?  "  "  Not  only  because  God 
reveals  it,  but  because  I  feel  such  a  load  of  guilt  upon  my  con- 
science." "  Do  you  really  feel  your  sins  to  be  so  great  ?  "  "  Yes, 
I  do.  Oh,  my  sins !  my  sins !  hell  seems  to  be  gaping  for  me ! 
Oh,  chaplain,  what  \vill  I  do?"  "Just  throw  yourself  right 
into  the  arms  of  Jesus,  and  cry  for  mercy,  and  he  will  save  you. 
Pray,  like  the  thief  on  the  cross,  *  Jesus,  Lord,  remember  me ;  * 
pray,  like  the  blind  beggar, '  Jesus,  thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy 
on  me ! '  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  your  sins ;  how  do  you 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  223 

expect  to  get  rid  of  them  ?  "  "I  don't  know.  I  try  to  pray,  and 
trust  in  the  Lord,  but  my  heart  is  so  hard :  I  know  God  is  able  to 
save  me,  but  I  am  so  faithless."  "Jesus  is  the  only  sin-bearer ;  he 
hath  borne  our  griefs  and  carried  our  sorrows :  only  believe,  and  he 
will  wash  your  soul  and  cleanse  your  hard  heart.  Do  you  feel  sorry 
for  your  sins?  "  "  Oh,  yes  ;  very  sorry."  "  If  you  repent,  God 
will  forgive.  '  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  unright- 
eous man  his  thoughts :  and  let  him  return  unto  the  Lord,  and 
he  will  have  mercy  upon  him;  and  to  our  God,  for  he  will 
abundantly  pardon.'  Jesus  is  here,  full  of  pity,  love,  and 
power,  knocking  at  the  very  door  of  your  heart,  crying,  '  Come 
unto  me,  and  1  will  give  you  rest ! '  May  God  bless  you." 


"I  AM  HAPPY  IN  THE  LORD!" 

I  visited  JAMES  KEED,  188th  Pa.,  Co.  D,  very  often,  and  at 
first  he  manifested  some  interest  in  religion,  but  gave  no  satisfac- 
tory evidence  of  piety.  He  was  badly  wounded  in  the  knee,  and 
suffered  long  and  very  severe.  Lying  so  long  on  his  back,  he  had 
very  bad  bed-sores.  I  preached,  read,  and  prayed  with  him  very 
often,  and  he  appreciated  it  highly.  He  would  say,  "  Come  and 
see  me  often,  chaplain."  He  became  concerned  about  his  salva- 
tion, and  gave  himself  unto  prayer.  Several  days  before  his 
death,  he  seemed  to  undergo  a  great  change.  On  the  evening 
of  November  27,  he  was  much  engaged  in  prayer,  and  said, 
"  The  Saviour  was  dear  and  precious."  He  seemed  to  long  for 
heaven,  and  said,  "  I  feel  prepared  to  go,  and  am  not  afraid  to 
die.  I  pray  and  hope  to  meet  my  father,  mother,  brothers,  and 
sisters  in  heaven."  He  had  two  books,  and  said,  "  Give  one  to 
my  sister  Nancy,  and  the  other  to  Mary,"  and  again  engaged  in 
earnest  prayer.  November  30th :  He  prayed  fervently  to-night. 
I  read  and  prayed  with  him,  and  sung, 

"  I  am  going  home,  to  die  no  more  !  " 

The  doctor  had  given  him  up  some  time.     He  lingered  with 
much  pain  till  December  1st,  and  death  closed  the  solemn  scene. 


224  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Dying  for  his  country  and,  we  trust,  dying  in  Christ,  he  said, 
"  I  am  happy  in  the  Lord.  To  die  is  gain :  to  depart  is  far 
better." 

CONVERTED  IN  THE  ARMY  THROUGH  SIN. 

At  my  first  interview  with  EDWARD  BURNETT,  118th  N.  Y., 
Co.  G,  he  seemed  to  be  an  humble,  prayerful  Christian.  Said 
he  had  been  converted  in  the  army  from  seeing  so  much  sin  and 
wickedness,  and  seeing  so  many  dying  soldiers.  "  Sin  led  you  to 
forsake  sin,  did  it  ?  "  "  Yes ;  hearing  so  much  profanity,  and 
seeing  so  much  wickedness,  led  me  to  consider  my  ways,  and  led 
me  to  seek  God  in  prayer,  which  has  resulted  in  my  conversion/' 
"  How  do  your  sins  appear  to  you  now  ?  "  "  They  seem  very 
great;  but  I  believe  God  has  forgiven  them  all."  He  had  a 
very  deep  sense  of  his  sins,  and  gave  bright  evidence  of  being  a 
regenerated  man.  God  often  brings  good  out  of  evil ;  but  this 
is  an  unusual  case.  Such  heights  of  wickedness  and  streams  of 
profanity,  as  were  common  during  the  war,  were  enough  to  alarm 
the  most  thoughtless.  God's  ways  are  not  our  ways.  He  can 
make  one  word  of  truth,  the  minie-ball,  the  lightning's  flash,  and 
the  sinner's  sin,  result  in  the  conversion  of  sinners.  The  wrath 
of  man  shall  praise  him.  Edward  grew  worse,  and  died  Novem- 
ber 25,  1864,  full  of  hope. 


"DO  YOU  TRUST  IN  THE  LORD?"     "NO," 

Said  BENJAMIN  E.  TILTON,  as  we  tried  to  urge  him  to  re- 
pentance. "Do  you  pray?"  "No."  "Do  you  swear?"  "Yes, 
occasionally."  "No  prayers,  no  faith,  no  Saviour,  and  shot 
through  the  mouth,  and  scarcely  able  to  speak :  what  a  dark 
picture !  How  glorious  to  die  for  your  country  !  how  awful  to 
die,  and  be  lost !  What  mean  these  daily  deaths  around  you  ? 
It  is  the  voice  of  Jesus,  warning  you  to  prepare  to  meet  thy 
God  :  you  must  turn  or  burn ;  believe  or  be  lost !  Oh,  then,  go 
to  Bethlehem  ;  go  to  Gethsemane ;  go  to  Calvary,  and  there  be- 
hold the  Lamb  of  God  praying,  bleeding,  dying,  that  you  might 
live  !  Just  think  of  the  matchless  love  of  Christ  in  exchanging 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  225 

the  glories  of  heaven  for  the  agonies  of  the  cross,  that  we,  un- 
worthy sinners,  might  have  eternal  life.  Think  of  the  prayers 
and  tears  of  an  anxious  mother  for  your  salvation,  and  will  you 
let  it  all  be  in  vain  ?  "  "  I  trust  not !  "  "  Your  creed,  '  I  trust 
not/  is  not  enough ;  it  will  not  save  you :  no,  it  is  quite  too 
scanty  to  carry  you  to  heaven.  Paul's  creed  delivered  to  the 
ti  ambling  jailer  was  short,  plain,  and  orthodox ;  but  it  was  very 
comprehensive  —  a  creed  which,  if  heartily  received,  will  carry 
you  safely  through  the  shock  of  battle;  through  all  the  fire, 
temptations,  trials,  and  storms  of  life,  and  finally  give  you  a 
triumphant  death,  and  take  you  safely  home  to  heaven."  "  What 
is  it?"  "  ' Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be 
saved.'  There  it  is.  Do  you  understand  it?  It  is  the  very 
thing  you  need :  it  is  the  Bible  and  the  plan  of  salvation  in  a 
nutshell.  With  Christ  for  its  object,  and  salvation  for  its  end, 
it  will  just  suit  you.  To  benefit  you,  you  must  receive  it  by 
faith.  It  is  the  only  thing  for  those  who  have  '  no  Saviour/  and 
no  prayers.  Only  believe,  and  you  have  nothing  to  fear."  "  Yes ; 
but  what  is  faith?"  "Faith  is  to  the  Christian  what  courage  is 
to  the  soldier."  "What?"  "  That  which  always  carries  him 
through.  Faith  is  letting  go  of  all  things  else  and  laying  hold 
of  Jesus,  and  clinging  to  the  cross  with  all  your  heart.  Let  me 
illustrate  it  for  you.  There  is  a  man  away  down  in  a  well,  with 
his  satchel  of  valuables  and  gold  ;  he  can't  get  out  himself,  and 
therefore  cries  for  help.  Two  men  passing  by  with  a  rope,  heard 
him,  and  ran  to  his  relief.  '  Can't  you  climb  up  and  get  out?' 
'  No ;  I  have  nothing  to  catch  hold  of.'  '  Can't  you  get  a  foot- 
hold on  the  stones  in  the  wall  of  the  well  ? '  '  No ;  it  is  all  too 
smooth,  and  the  water  is  deep,  and  I  have  nothing  to  stand  on.' 
'  Nothing  to  stand  on  ? '  '  No.'  Just  like  the  sinner  without 
Christ —  building  without  a  foundation,  and  nothing  to  stand  on. 
< Can't  you  touch  the  bottom?'  'Oh,  no;  the  water  is  deep, 
and  I  am  afraid  I  will  lose  my  satchel.  Oh,  DO  lift  me  out! 
I  am  almost  out  of  breath,  and  I  can't  keep  up  much  longer.  If 
not  soon  saved,  I  am  gone  forever.  And  will  you  let  me  drown  ?' 
'  No ;  here  is  a  rope :  now  you  grasp  it  firmly  with  both  hands/ 
'With  both  hands?'  <  Yes.'  '  But  what  will  I  do  with  my  satchel  ?* 


226  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

1  Why,  let  it  go ;  let  it  go  quick,  and  grasp  the  rope  with  both 
hands  with  all  your  might,  or  we  will  let  you  sink  and  be 
drowned.'  He  grasped  the  rope  with  one  hand,  clinging  to  the 
satchel  with  the  other.  The  men  gave  a  strong  pull ;  but  the  poor 
worldling,  having  reached  about  half-way  up,  let  go,  and  down 
he  went  again  into  the  water,  deeper  than  ever.  '  There  !  he 's 
gone ! '  exclaimed  one  man  to  the  other.  '  Stop  !  wait :  let 's  see  if 
he  won't  come  up  again  ! '  Presently  he  rises  again,  just  ready  to 
perish,  exclaiming  '  Lord  have  mercy  on  me !  God  be  merciful 
to  me  a  sinner  !  Oh,  brethren  will  you  let  me  drown?'  And 
again  they  let  down  the  rope,  beseeching  him  to  drop  his  satchel, 
and  grasp  the  rope  with  all  his  might  with  both  hands.  He  did 
so.  They  gave  another  pall,  and  up  came  the  drowning  man, 
saved  at  last.'  This,  Benjamin,  is  an  illustration  of  faith.  It 
implies  two  things :  first,  letting  go  of  the  world,  and,  second, 
laying  hold  of  Jesus.  Do  you  see  it,  Benjamin  ? "  "  Yes,  I 
believe  I  do."  "Will  you  try  it?"  "I  will."  "May  God 
help  and  bless  you." 


"URGE   HIM   TO   COME   TO  JESUS." 

JOHN  GOFF,  142d  N.  Y.,  Co.  D,  though  rather  careless  at  first, 
soon  became  interested,  and  enjoyed  religious  services  very  much. 
At  our  next  interview,  though  somewhat  anxious,  he  said,  "I  don't 
think  I  am  a  Christian,  but  would  like  to  be  one."  Apparently 
penitent  and  prayerful,  he  repeatedly  said,  "God  bless  me." 
With  a  very  severe  wound  in  the  left  arm,  and  increasing  in  anx- 
iety about  his  salvation,  he  seemed  to  enjoy  my  visits  very  much, 
and  would  usually  exclaim  on  my  entering  his  tent,  "  God  bless 
you,  chaplain ;  God  bless  you.  Oh,  how  glad  I  am  that  you 
have  come."  He  appeared  to  grow  in  grace,  and  several  days 
€re  he  died  he  said  he  loved  the  Saviour ;  that  he  had  been  con- 
verted in  the  hospital,  and  that  he  felt  a  deep  concern  for  his 
unconverted  brother.  He  suffered  long  and  severely,  and  seemed 
to  be  an  humble,  sincere  Christian.  When  I  wrote  a  letter  to 
his  brother,  he  said  to  me,  "  Urge  him  to  come  to  Jesus."  Deep 
concern  for  the  salvation  of  others  is  an  evidence  of  the  gracious 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  227 

state.  He  seemed  very  happy,  and  his  oft-repeated  prayer  was 
"  God  bless  me ;  God  bless  me."  If  every  man  urged  his  brother 
to  come  to  Jesus,  there  would  not  be  so  many  without  hope. 
Reading  and  praying  with  him  very  often,  he  lingered  a  long 
while,  and  fell  with  the  autumn  leaf  in  1864.  To  depart  is  far 
better. 

"THANK  GOD   FOR    MY  WOUND," 

Said  MILES  JAMES,  Corporal,  Co.  B,  36th  U.  S.,  colored,  as 
he  related  his  religious  experience.  He  was  a  backslidden 
Methodist,  yet,  with  his  left  arm  off  near  the  shoulder,  he  was 
very  grateful  for  liberty ;  full  of  fight,  full  of  courage,  and  with 
a  heart  burning  with  heroic  patriotism,  he  was  lively  and  rich 
in  conversation.  Sprightly,  .and  hot  with  zeal  to  quell  the  re- 
bellion, he  seemed  to  "  glory  in  tribulation,"  exclaiming,  as  his 
heart  seemed  to  glow  with  gratitude,  "  Thank  God,  thank  God, 
THANK  GOD  for  my  wound !  It  has  brought  me  nearer  to  God, 
and  knocked  the  feeling  of  revenge  out  of  me.  Before  it,  I 
would  have  killed  a  rebel  on  his  knees  before  me,  but  now  I 
would  take  him  prisoner.  Before  it,  I  would  cry, '  Fort  Pillow, 
and  let  'em  have  it/  but  now  I  would  spare  'em.  My  wound  has 
brought  nte  nearer  to  God,  and  I  thank  him  for  it.  Before  it,  I 
was  full  of  revenge  against  the  rebels,  but  this  wound  has  taken 
it  away.  I  praise  the  Lord  for  it.  I  feel  very  happy  lying  here 
on  my  bed.  Oh,  I  am  so  happy  !  But  if  I  get  well,  I  will  go 
and  fight  again."  This  was  on  October  11,  1864.  At  another 
interview,  he  said,  "  My  wound  has  brought  me  to  the  point." 
"  Brought  you  to  the  point,  aye  ?  "  "  Yes."  "  What  point  ?  " 
"  Why,  to  the  point  of  repentance  and  contrition ;  it  has  brought 
me,  chaplain,  to  the  foot  of  the  cross."  "  Then  stick  to  it,  James. 
By  all  means  stick  to  it.  It  is  sticking  to  the  point  and  clinging 
to  the  cross  that  makes  us  happy  even  under  the  most  adverse  and 
trying  circumstances.  Daniel,  when  surrounded  with  hosts  of 
fierce  enemies,  said,  '  My  sotil  is  among  lions ; '  yet,  with  his  heart 
stayed  and  fixed  upon  God,  he  was  happy  in  prayer  and  praise. 
Cranmer,  brought  to  the  point,  with  his  heart  stayed  and  fixed 
upon  God,  because  he  had  subscribed  to  popery,  when  at  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

stake,  held  his  unworthy  hand  in  the  flames  till  it  was  burned 
to  a  cinder,  before  his  body  was  scorched,  exclaiming,  'This 
hand,  this  unworthy  right  hand.'  There  he  hung,  apparently 
insensible  of  pain,  praying,  '  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit,'  until 
the  flames  choked  his  utterance.  How  glorious,  James,  to  see 
you  so  happy,  with  your  arm  riven  from  your  body,  that  not  one 
star  should  be  riven  from  the  dear  old  flag.  Fight  on,  James, 
for  God  and  the  country,  and  the  Lord  will  reward  you.  Do 
you  pray  much  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  prays  very  often.  It  is  very  good 
to  pray."  "  Do  you  like  to  hear  the  gospel  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I  liked 
to  jump  out  of  my  bed  when  you  preached  to  us  last  Sunday 
night."  "  Pray  on,  James.  Be  earnest ;  stick  to  the  point  and 
cling  to  the  cross,  and  Jesus  will  at  last  raise  you  to  his  throne." 

SERGEANT  DWIGHT   KNEELAND. 

Sergeant  DWIGHT  KNEELAND,  of  the  Signal  Corps,  U.  S.  A., 
was  brought  to  the  hospital,  in  Feb.  1865,  from  near  Petersburg, 
Va.  Worn  out  by  nearly  three  years'  service  in  his  country's 
cause,  he  was  very  much  reduced  in  flesh,  and  sinking  with  con- 
sumption. Pale,  tall,  slender,  and  well  dressed,  he  presented  a 
dignified,  genteel  appearance  when  he  entered  the  ward.  He 
lingered  along  for  several  days  with  but  little  perceptible  change, 
yet  failing  gradually.  On  approaching  him  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  we  found  him  rather  careless,  yet  not  entirely  indiffer- 
ent. Says  he,  "  I  have  been  a  great  sinner."  But  he  soon  gave 
signs  of  concern  for  his  salvation,  and  became  somewhat  penitent 
and  prayerful.  God  worked  in  him,  and  on  our  next  interview 
we  found  him  more  deeply  concerned,  and  praying  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  publican,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner."  The 
Spirit  strove  with  him,  and,  becoming  more  resigned  and  con- 
trite, he  prayed,  "  Not  my  will,  but  God's,  be  done."  This  was 
on  February  26,  1865.  I  preached  to  him  and  his  ward  on  the 
Sabbath,  from  the  Saviour's  compassionate  words,  Matt,  xxiii.  37. 
It  was  his  last  sermon,  and  he  listened  very  attentively.  Time 
fled,  life  ebbed  away,  and  three  days  after,  conscious  of  approach- 
ing death,  he  said,  in  the  language  of  the  immortal  Braiuard,  — 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  229 

"  MY   WORK   IS   DONE  ! 

I  am  going  to  die ;  I  don't  want  to  live ;  I  feel  prepared  to  go. 
Tell  my  father,  '  I  die  happy,  and  that  I  bid  them  all  farewell ! 
Send  my  things  home  to  him/  "  Thoughtful  and  faithful  to  his 
country  and  to  his  trust,  he  requested  us  to  burn  his  Signal-Boolc, 
lest  secrets  might  be  revealed  ;  and  we  burned  it  in  the  stove. 
On  approaching  him  the  next  evening,  he  seemed  better ;  and, 
after  reading  to  him  the  Saviour's  consoling  words  (John  xiv.), 
and  praying  with  him,  we  bade  him  "  good-night,"  expecting  to 
visit  him  early  next  morning.  But  on  entering  the  ward,  we 
found  that  he  had  finished  his  course,  and  his  place  in  the  ward 
was  made  vacant !  Gone  from  time  to  eternity ;  gone,  we  trust, 
from  earth  to  heaven,  to  join  the  redeemed,  blood- washed  throng, 
where  there  will  be  no  more  war,  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow 
nor  crying.  We  saw  him  next  in  the  dead-house.  Patient  in 
all  his  sufferings,  he  uttered  not  a  murmuring  word.  Resigned, 
and  with  his  work  done,  and,  we  trust,  prepared  to  die,  his  quiet 
departure  seemed  to  say,  "  To  die  is  gain ;  thanks  be  to  God, 
which  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ! " 
He  died  March  1,  1865.  His  mortal  remains  were  taken  home 
to  Connecticut. 

"DIED  CALLING  FOR  THE   CHAPLAIN." 

At  our  first  interview  with  JOHN  H.  DUNHAM,  117th  N.  Y., 
Co.  D,  we  found  him  careless,  and  rather  indifferent  about  reli- 
gion. "  Do  you  pray  ?  "  "  Not  much.  I  feel  a  little  sorry  for 
my  sins  at  times  ;  but  it  soon  passes  away  like  the  wind."  This 
was  on  November  10,  1864.  I  preached  to  him  and  prayed  for 
him,  and  commended  him  to  God,  and  urged  him  to  fly  to  Jesus. 
"  You  may  get  well,  but  life  is  very  uncertain.  How  sad  the 
thought  to  see  a  brave  soldier  lose  his  limb,  and  shed  his  blood, 
and  die  for  his  country,  and  die  and  be  lost !  Oh,  then,  let  me 
beseech  you,  repent,  repent !  Let  the  loss  of  your  leg  be  a  call 
from  God  to  repent,  and  seek  the  salvation  of  your  soul.  Only 
think  of  the  goodness  of  God  in  sparing  your  life ;  giving  you 
time  to  repent,  while  many  others  fell  dead  without  a  moment's 


230  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

warning!  Look  to  the  cross;  look  to  Jesus;  behold  him  in 
Gethsemane ;  see  how  he  pleads,  agonizes,  and  sweats  as  it  were 
great  drops  of  blood  falling  down  to  the  ground,  for  our  salva- 
tion !  Behold  him  hanging  upon  Calvary,  groaning,  bleeding, 
and  dying  that  ignominious  death,  that  you  might  live  and  enjoy 
eternal  life !  How  wonderful  the  scene  :  the  earth  quakes ;  the 
rocks  rend ;  the  graves  open ;  the  dead  rise ;  and  the  sun  refuses 
to  shine  before  the  awful  grandeur  of  the  solemn  scene!  And 
for  whom,  and  for  what  did  he  suffer  all  this  ?  It  was  for  us, 
poor  sinners,  who  have  rebelled  against  him ;  it  was  for  you ! 
It  was  to  make  an  atonement  for  sin,  that  you  might  enjoy  for- 
giveness and  eternal  life !  You  have  shed  your  blood  for  the 
salvation  of  your  country,  Jesus  shed  his  for  the  salvation  of 
the  soul ;  you  die  for  his  friends,  Jesus  died  for  his  enemies. 
Oh,  John,  just  think  of  his  matchless  love,  and  be  no  longer 
impenitent!  Does  his  compassion  move  you?  does  not  the 
very  thought  of  these  things  touch  your  heart?"  "Yes,  chap- 
lain, they  do ;  but  my  heart  is  so  hard,  I  can't  feel  my  sins  for- 
given." "  Do  you  feel  sorry  for  your  sins?  "  "  Yes,  I  do ;  but 
not  as  I  ought."  "  Would  you  not  like  to  be  a  Christian  ?  " 
"  Oh,  yes,  I  would ;  but  my  heart  is  so  hard."  "  Yes,  but  Jesus 
can  soften  and  change  it."  "  Can't  you  trust  him  ?  "  "I  will 
try."  "He  is  able,  willing,  mighty  to  save!  Just  forsake 
sin,  and  let  go  self,  and  throw  yourself  right  into  the  arms  of 
Jesus,  and  he  will  save  you.  Only  '  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.'  Pray,  pray,  like  the  publican, 
'God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner!'  Pray,  like  sinking  Peter, 
'  Lord,  save  me  !'  and  just  come  to  Jesus  now,  just  as  you  are, 
and  salvation  is  sure."  Calling  on  him  again  in  a  few  days,  we 
found  him  indulging  a  hope,  and  said,  "  He  thought  he  would 
not  be  afraid  to  die,  and  that  he  could  die  happy."  He  grew 
worse,  and  died  November  18,  1864,  exclaiming,  "  Where  is  the 
chaplain  ?  "  Patients  often  called  for  the  chaplain  at  the  ap- 
proach of  death. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  231 

"JUST  AS  GOD  WISHES." 

It  was  on  a  cold,  cloudy  day  in  November,  with  the  whistling 
wind  whirling  around  the  patient's  narrow  bed,  when  we  ap- 
proached Wm.  Brown,  Co.  I,  117th  N.  Y.,  lying  quite  low  with 
a  severe  wound  in  the  leg.  But  upon  canvassing  his  heart,  we 
found  him,  though  weak  in  body,  strong  in  faith,  clinging  to  the 
cross,  with  bright  prospects  of  a  glorious  immortality  beyond  the 
grave.  Resigned  and  submissive,  he  said,  "  Though  life  is  sweet, 
I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  can  say,  God's  will  be  done.  Just  as 
he  wishes."  "  How  precious  the  attainment !  Just  as  God  wishes, 
whether  I  live  or  die.  I  suppose  you  feel  very  happy  ?  "  "  Oh, 
yes ;  I  am  happy.  To  die  is  gain."  "  Have  you  any  doubts 
about  your  salvation?"  " No ;  I  know  in  whom  I  have  believed, 
and  am  persuaded  that  he  will  grant  me  a  seat  at  his  right  hand 
at  the  last  day."  Lying  in  the  arms  of  Jesus,  he  seemed  to  say, 
with  Paul,  "I  am  now  ready.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I 
have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith :  henceforth  there 
is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness."  Oh,  how  sublime 
the  consummation  !  How  glorious  the  victory !  walling  to  die  for 
your  country,  and  just  waiting  to  die  in  the  Lord.  Just  waiting 
to  drop  the  garment  of  mortality  and  be  clothed  with  a  glorious 
immortality.  Lingering  till  December  10,  1864,  God  gave  the 
word,  and  said,  "  Come  up  higher,"  and,  robed  in  white,  doubt- 
less he  went  home  to  glory.  "  Be  ye  also  ready,  for  in  such  an 
hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of  man  corneth." 

"TELL  MY  MOTHER  I  DIED  HAPPY," 

Said  LORENZO  D.  STEWARD,  llth  Me.,  Co.  K,  as  we  were 
canvassing  his  tender  heart.  It  was  his  dying  message  to  an 
affectionate  mother.  He  freely  confessed  his  waywardness  in 
the  army;  but  at  our  first  interview  seemed  quite  penitent  and 
anxious  about  his  salvation.  "  I  would  like  to  be  saved,"  he 
said,  "and  meet  my  Father  in  heaven."  "Seeing  you  are  so 
anxious  about  salvation,  I  hope  you  have  oorreot  views  of  the 
way  to  be  saved."  "  I  trust  I  have,  sir."  "  What  must  we  do  to 


232  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

be  saved  ?  "  "  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  "  Yes,  that's 
it.  Salvation  is  free.  Yes,  free  as  the  air  we  breathe.  God  says, 
'  Look  and  live.'  Do  you  feel  sorry  for  your  sins ?  "  "I  trust  I 
do."  "  How  does  the  Saviour  appear  to  you  ?  "  "  He  appears 
dear  and  precious."  " Think  you  love  Jesus ?  "  "I  believe  I 
do."  "  Love  is  the  principal  thing.  '  Love  is  the  fulfilling  of 
the  law.'  Love  to  Christ  is  the  essence  and  the  very  core  of 
Christianity.  We  may  say  our  prayers,  shed  our  tears,  make  the 
loudest  professions,  unite  with  the  church,  go  to  the  Lord's  table, 
bestow  all  our  goods  to  feed  the  poor,  die  for  our  country,  and 
give  our  bodies  to  be  burned,  yet  without  love  to  Christ,  we  are 
as  sounding  brass  or  a  tinkling  cymbal ;  yea,  ( we  are  nothing.' 
The  great,  heart-searching  question  the  Saviour  put  to  Peter, 
was,  '  Loved  thou  ME  ? '  The  question  is  not  do  you  love  your 
wife,  children,  parents,  or  sister.  It  is  not  do  you  love  your  coun- 
try? No;  it  is  higher,  purer,  holier,  and  more  important  far  than 
all  these.  It  is  do  you  love  the  SAVIOUR  ?  Nothing  but  supreme 
love  to  God  will  ever  raise  the  soul  to  heaven.  The  question  is 
not  do  you  profess  to  love.  It  is  not  do  you  hope  or  expect  to 
love.  No;  but  do  you  love  now?  Think  you  can  answer  the 
question  as  did  weeping  Peter  ?  l  Yea,  Lord,  thou  Jcnowest  that 
I  love  thee.' "  "  I  believe  I  can."  "  Do  you  feel  the  love  of 
Christ  constraining  you?"  "Yes;  it  seems  to  draw  me  nearer 
and  nearer  unto  him.  Oh,  the  love  of  Christ !  Oh,  the  love  of 
Christ !  How  VAST  !  how  great  and  powerful !  How  precious 
is  Jesus  to  my  soul.  I  feel  so  happy.  I  have  no  fear  of  death. 
I  believe  to  die  will  be  gain,  and  to  depart  will  be  far  better." 
Outriding  the  storms  of  life  till  November  28,  1864,  the  silver 
cord  was  broken,  and,  with  his  soul  washed  in  Christ's  blood, 
he  went,  we  trust,  home  to  heaven.  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  who 
die  in  the  Lord." 


"IT  IS  EASIER  TO  SERVE  SATAN." 

Upon  entering  a  ward  of  colored  patients,  one  day,  and  while 
canvassing  the  heart  of  Charles  Pearson,  22d  U.  S.,  Co.  H,  col- 
ored, and  finding  that  he  was  still  "  out  of  the  way/'  I  asked 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  533 

him  why  he  chose  to  serve  Satan  ?  He  promptly  replied,  "  It 
is  easier."  "Easier?  What!  is  the  devil  an  easier  master  than  the 
Saviour?  is  the  service  of  him  who  walketh  about  as  a  roaring 
lion,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour,  easier  than  the  service  of 
Him  who  came  from  heaven  to  earth  to  seek,  suffer,  bleed,  and 
die  to  save?  is  'the  snare  of  the  devil '  easier  than  the  cross  ol 
Christ?  is  the  road  to  hell  easier  than  the  road  to  heaven?  is  i< 
easier,  Charles  ? "  "  It  is  easier,  chaplain,  till  you  get  in  the 
right  way."  "  It  is  always  easier  to  swim  down  stream  than  to 
swim  up  against  a  strong  current.  Lost  by  the  fall,  blinded  by 
sin,  led  captive  and  deceived  by  Satan,  to  the  unrenewed  to  serve 
him  is  more  natural  and  easy,  although  Christ's  yoke  is  far  easier 
and  his  burden  far  lighter.  Yet  Satan  is  a  hard  master.  Contrast 
him  with  Christ :  Satan  is  a  liar,  Christ  is  ( the  truth ;'  Christ 
was  always  a  Saviour,  but  the  devil  was  always  a  murderer ; 
Satan  seeks  to  destroy,  Christ  to  save ;  Satan  will  lead  you  down 
to  hell,  Christ  will  lead  you  up  to  heaven  !  Oh,  then,  choose  ye 
this  day  whom  ye  will  serve !  Cut  loose  from  the  world,  divorce 
thyself  from  Satan,  let  go  self,  escape  for  thy  life,  fly,  fly  to 
Jesus;  look  and  live;  believe  and  be  saved!  Sin  hath  its 
pleasures,  but  'at  the  last  it  biteth  like  a  serpent,  and  stingeth  like 
an  adder.'  Look  to  God  for  strength ;  go  forward  in  Christ's 
name ;  and  if  Satan  assaults  you,  charge  against  him  with  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  you  will  always  put  him  to  flight. 
But  to  triumph  over  the  devil  is  not  enough.  To  be  safe,  you 
must  embrace  Christ.  Only  enlist  under  his  banner,  and  you  will 
find  his  yoke  easy  and  his  burden  light.  In  his  presence  there 
is  fulness  of  joy,  and  at  his  right  hand  there  are  pleasures  for- 


"I  AM  BETTER  IN  THE  ARMY  THAN  AT  HOME." 

Notwithstanding  the  distressing  apprehensions  and  the  awful 
forebodings  entertained  by  some  patriotic  mothers  at  home,  when 
their  sons  entered  the  service  of  their  country,  dreading  the  con- 
taminating and  corrupting  influences  of  the  army,  and  greatly 
fearing  lest  they  would  come  home  "  spoiled  and  ruined,"  they 


234  CHRISTIANITY. IN    THE    WAR. 

almost  refused  to  let  them  go ;  yet  we  find  that  the  army  was  not 
such  a  great  demoralizer  after  all.  At  the  close  of  the  war, 
one  million  of  soldiers  go  home,  receiving  the  most  hearty  wel- 
come, accompanied  with  sumptuous  dinners  and  the  most  enthu- 
siastic demonstrations  of  joy  upon  their  safe  return,  and  the 
glorious  victory  they  achieved.  And  each  one  going  to  his 
respective  home,  again  enjoys  and  mingles  with  his  old  surviving 
friends,  exerting  his  influence  upon  them,  and  still  the  moral 
stamina  of  society  does  not  seem  to  have  diminished.  It  is  true 
some  became  worse,  but  many  were  made  better  by  army  life. 
The  fact  is,  the  religious  interest  in  the  army,  in  many  places,  was 
far  greater  than  ordinarily  at  home.  Hence  we  not  unfrequently 
hear  soldiers  express  themselves  as  did  Marquis  Davis,  118th 
N.  Y.,  Co.  A,  "  I  am  better  in  the  army  than  at  home/'  as  we 
talked  about  the  trials,  deprivations,  and  temptations  of  army 
life.  Said  he,  "  I  have  quit  swearing  in  the  army.  I  pray  daily ; 
all  my  trust  is  in  God ;  and  the  Saviour  is  dear  and  precious." 
"  Pretty  well  for  the  army,  Marquis  !  Better  here  than  at  home  ?  " 
"Yes;  I  have  quit  swearing,  and  tried  to  reform  and  do  better." 
"  Think  you  have  been  converted  in  the  army  ?  "  "I  hope  so ; 
but  the  evidences  are  not  quite  as  bright  as  I  would  like." 
"  You  have  some  doubts,  eh  !  "  "  Yes ;  but  I  have  a  strong, 
abiding  hope."  "  Jesus  says,  '  Come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest.'  Just  go  to  God  with  your  case,  and  make  a  full,  com- 
plete surrender  of  yourself  to  him  who  gave  himself  for  you, 
and  all  will  be  well.  Ask  God  for  brighter  evidences,  and  he 
will  give  it.  '  Open  thy  mouth  wide,  and  I  will  fill  it.'  Thomas 
had  doubts,  and  said,  '  Except  I  shall  see  in  his  hands  the  print 
of  the  nails,  and  thrust  my  hand  into  his  side,  I  will  not  believe. 
And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  reach  hither  thy  hand,  and  behold  my 
hands;  and  reach  hither  thy  hand,  and  thrust  it  into  my  side;  and 
be  no  longer  faithless,  but  believing.'  And  Thomas  answered 
and  said  unto  him,  '  My  Lord  and  my  God  ! '  His  doubts  were 
removed  by  looking  to  Christ.  Thomas  looked  with  the  natural 
eye ;  but  if  you  only  will  look  with  the  eye  of  faith,  Jesus  will 
remove  your  doubts,  and  you  will  be  enabled  to  say,  '  My  Lord 
and  my  God ! '  Many  good  Christians  at  times  have  doubts ; 


UNCLE    JACOB. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  235 

yet  it  is  the  believer's  privilege  to  rise  above  them,  and  say,  with 
Job,  'I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth.'  Pray  on,  brother; 
strive  to  grow  in  grace ;  'go  on  unto  perfection/  until  you  shall 
be  made  complete  in  Christ  and  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of 
God.  If  you  will  only  be  earnest  and  faithful,  army  life  will 
tend  to  help  you  on  to  God.  The  shock  of  battle,  the  stare  of 
death's  grim  visage,  the  dreadful  carnage,  the  groans  of  the 
wounded  and  dying,  and  dear  comrades  falling  around  you,  to- 
gether with  the  stern  realities  of  eternity  rising  in  full  view,  and 
the  solemn  thought, '  I  don't  know  how  soon  it  may  be  my  turn 
to  fall/  are  all  well  calculated  to  quicken  and  arouse  the  most 
thoughtless  sinner.  Hence  we  feel  like  saying,  that  doubtless 
many  have  been  converted  in  the  army  who  never  would  have 
been  reached  at  home.  God  has  his  own  way  of  doing  his  own 
work." 

WILLIAM  J.  JOHNSON,  142o  N.  Y.,  CO.  D., 

Was  severely  wounded  during  the  last  year  of  the  war,  and 
brought  to  Hampton  Hospital,  and  put  in  a  .tent,  ward  number 
twenty-three.  Shot  through  the  left  breast,  the  ball  passing 
through  the  lungs,  he  lay  for  several  months  upon  his  back,  and 
suffered  severely.  William  was  a  kind,  good  boy,  and  highly 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  Genteel,  patient,  and  neat  in 
his  person  and  manners,  everything  about  him  was  calculated  to 
win :  he  was  a  particular  favorite  of  the  matron  and  ward-master. 
On  approaching  him  on  the  subject  of  religion,  he  said,  "  God 
has  done  great  things  for  me."  "  What  has  he  done  for  you  ?  " 
"  I  hope  he  has  forgiven  my  sins ;  and  I  believe  he  will  save  me. 
I  put  my  trust  in  him,  and  hope  and  pray  he  will  raise  me." 
"If  you  will  only  trust  in  God,  and  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  your  salvation  is  sure.  Salvation  is  free  and  ready,  and 
offered  without  money  and  without  price,  upon  the  conditions 
of  faith  and  repentance."  "Do  you  feel  sorry  for  your  sins?" 
"I  trust  I  do."  "God  says,  'Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all 
likewise  perish.'  We  must  all  turn  or  die,  believe  or  be  lost." 
We  visited  him  very  often,  reading  and  praying  in  his  tent, 
urging  him  to  give  his  heart  to  God,  and  cliug  to  the  cross. 


236  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Brave  and  patriotic,  William  bore  all  his  sufferings  like  a  young 
hero.  Patient  and  resigned,  he  was  always  cheerful  and  happy. 
Although  other  patients  died  around  him,  William  lived  on, 
notwithstanding  his  severe,  dangerous  wound,  always  lively  and 
hopeful.  We  left  him  getting  better. 

"ALL  IS  WELL." 

"Well,  William,  how  are  you  to-day?"  "I  feel  tolerably 
well  to-day,  chaplain."  "  Gaining  a  little,  eh  ?  "  "  Yes,  a  little." 
"How  are  you  spiritually?  Are  you  soldiering  for  Christ  as 
well  as  for  your  country?"  "I  don't  know:  I  have  lived  rather 
a  careless  life ;  but  I  feel  somewhat  interested  in  religion  now." 
I  visited  him  very  often,  and  preached,  talked  to  and  prayed 
with  him,  and  he  enjoyed  it  very  much.  Though  a  non-professor, 
he  seemed  now,  March  20,  1865,  on  my  second  visit,  to  be  in- 
dulging a  good  hope.  On  my  approaching  him,  he  wept,  and, 
raising  his  frail  hand,  grasped  mine  most  heartily,  and  appeared 
to  be  very  happy,  and  said,  "  I  feel  that  I  could  fly  away  to 
Jesus."  As  he  saw  and  felt  death  approaching,  he  said,  "  This 
(i.  e.  approaching  death,)  will  fetch  'em."  "  Fetch  who  ?  "  "  Fetch 
sinners  to  repentance."  "  Yes,  the  approach  of '  the  king  of  ter- 
rors' often  brings  men  to  their  feelings,  and  makes  them  think 
and  feel  very  differently  from  what  they  had  ever  done  before. 
I  suppose,  as  you  feel  as  though  you  could  fly  away  to  Jesus, 
that  you  are  very  happy?  "  "  Yes,"  he  said,  with  deep  emotions, 
"  I  feel  happy  in  the  Lord."  Lingering  along  till  March  25,  his 
mortal  machinery  gave  way,  and  with  the  dying,  consoling  words 
"All  is  well !  "  he  left  this  sublunary  world,  and  went,  we  trust, 
to  dwell  with  the  sanctified  above.  His  name  was  William  F. 
Smith,  7th  Conn.,  Co.  D.  How  consoling  to  surviving  friends, 
to  die  with  the  happy,  "  All  is  well  "  on  the  lips  !  "  To  depart 
is  far  better." 

"OLD  JACOB,"  THE  GRAVE-DIGGER. 

"  It  takes  all  sorts  of  people  to  make  a  world,"  and  although 
"  God  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  to  dwell  on 


CIIRISTTANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  237 

all  the  face  of  the  earth,"  yet  he  has  made  every  man  with  his 
peculiar  traits  and  peculiar  fitness  for  some  particular  position  in 
life.  Some  are  born  to  rule,  others  to  obey.  Some  to  wield  the 
sword,  others  the  pen.  Some  to  fight  and  make  war,  others  to 
reconcile  and  make  peace.  When  God  was  about  to  publish  the 
moral  law,  and  deliver  the  captive  hosts  of  Israel  from  Egyptian 
bondage,  he  raised  up  a  Moses  well  fitted  for  the  great  work. 
When  a  new  world  was  to  be  discovered,  God  raised  up  a 
Columbus  to  search  and  find  it.  When  the  gospel  was  to 
be  sent  to  the  Gentile  world,  a  learned  Paul,  armed  with  the 
panoply  of  heaven,  and  with  a  heart  burning  with  zeal,  was  raised 
up,  thoroughly  furnished  for  the  great  and  arduous  work.  When 
4,000,000  of  slaves  were  to  be  emancipated,  an  Abraham  Lin- 
coln steps  upon  the  political  arena,  walks  into  the  presidential 
chair,  and  with  a  stroke  of  the  pen  cuts  their  bonds  asunder. 
When  Dr.  Eli  McClellan,  assistant  surgeon  of  the  U.  S.  A., 
and  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  U.  S.  Gen.  Hospital,  Fortress  Mon- 
roe, Va.,  noted  for  his  executive  ability,  wanted  a  man  to  super- 
intend the  digging  of  graves  for  the  departed  soldiers,  he  made 
a  wise  choice  in  the  selection  of  "  Old  Jacob,"  of  Hampton,  Va. 
With  four  or  five  other  colored  men,  under  his  care,  he  was  en- 
trusted with  this  laborious  work.  Always  known  by  the  familiar 
name,  "  Old  Jacob,"  I  never  learned  his  proper  name.  But  judg- 
ing from  his  history  and  from  his  appearance,  his  frank,  open 
countenance,  the  simplicity  of  his  manners,  his  meek  disposition, 
and  marked  piety,  we  suppose  he  possessed  many  of  the  distin- 
guished traits  that  characterized  Jacob  of  old.  At  the  burying 
of  the  soldiers,  he  always  behaved  with  marked  reverence  and 
propriety.  With  his  hoary  head  bared,  with  his  spade  in  one 
hand  and  hat  in  the  other,  he  always  listened  to  the  funeral  ser- 
vices with  profound  attention,  and,  judging  from  his  deep  sighs 
and  profuse  tears,  he  was  evidently  very  deeply  impressed  with 
the  solemn  scene.  There  was  something  noble  and  prepossessing 
in  his  appearance.  In  fact,  he  possessed  so  many  marked  features 
and  striking  traits  of  character,  that  the  distinguished  Abbott, 
in  getting  up  illustrations,  and  in  preparing  a  lengthy  article  on 
the  hospital,  for  Harpers'  Monthly  Magazine,  put  in  his  portrait, 


238  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

accompanied  with  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life.  If  you  look  in  the 
August  Number  of  1864,  you  will  see  "Old  Jacob/'  natural  as 
life,  with  his  big  white  eye,  broad-brimmed  hat,  with  his  spade 
in  hand,  standing  beside  a  soldier's  grave,  in  the  soldiers'  grave- 
yard at  Hampton,  Va.  Besides  digging  graves,  and  burying 
the  dead,  he  had  the  supervision  of  exhuming  the  dead  to  be 
sent  home.  And  so  great  was  the  pressure  in  this  unpleasant, 
sickly  work,  in  the  fall  of  1864,  that " Old  Jacob"  worked  himself 
to  death.  At  least  he  got  sick,  and  died  December  4,  1864,  at 
Hampton,  Va.  Gone,  we  trust,  to  realize  the  blessedness  of 
dying  in  the  Lord. 

"THE  BIBLE  BETTER  THAN  GREENBACKS." 

Although  the  great  mass  of  our  soldiers  were  Americans,  we 
found  in  the  ranks  men  from  almost  every  nation  of  the  earth. 
The  Germans  and  Irish  were  numerous.  With  a  small  sprinkle 
of  English,  French,  and  Scotch,  we  frequently  met  with  the 
Swiss,  the  Italian,  the  Polander,  the  Russian,  the  Dane,  and  the 
Canadian,  and,  in  a  few  instances,  with  "  the  poor  Indian,"  wear- 
ing the  soldier's  garb,  with  Uncle  Sam's  large  glittering  "  U.  S." 
sticking  upon  his  blue  cap.  While  visiting  the  brave  boys  of 
ward  No.  27,  we  accosted  John  Nichols,  of  the  Oneida  tribe, 
and  belonging  to  the  29th  Reg.,  Co.  B,  of  Conn.  Vol. ;  and  as 
we  were  conversing  about  religion,  the  war,  and  the  country,  we 
were  somewhat  surprised  to  learn  his  high  appreciation  of  the 
word  of  God.  He  said,  "  Instead  of  giving  the  recruit  green- 
backs, the  Government  should  give  him  the  Bible.  The  country 
is  too  much  for  greenbacks,"  he  said.  Deeply  impressed  with 
the  horrors  of  war  and  of  the  value  of  human  life,  he  said,  "  It 
is  not  right  to  fight  and  kill  so  many."  Possessed  with  a  humane 
spirit  and  being  tired  of  the  war,  and  failing  doubtless  to  realize 
the  great  interests  involved  in  the  great  struggle,  he  said,  "  I 
wish  I  had  never  enlisted."  He  was  the  only  soldier  I  ever 
heard  express  his  regret  for  having  entered  the  service.  And 
although  there  may  have  been,  in  some  cases,  an  undue  thirst 
for  greenbacks  among  this  war  spirit,  yet  we  did  not  expect  such 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  239 

a  reproof  as  the  above,  "  The  country  is  too  fond  of  greenbacks," 
from  an  Oneida  Indian.  And  how  very  significant  the  sug- 
gestion, "  Better  give  the  recruit  the  Bib]e  than  give  him  green- 
backs." "Although  money  auswereth  all  things,"  as  Solomon 
said,  yet  "the  love  of  it  is  the  root  of  all  evil."  Money,  as  "the 
sinews  of  war,"  is  good  and  important;  yet  the  poor  Indian 
says,  "  for  the  recruit  the  Bible  is  better."  And  so  it  is.  Arm&l 
with  the  weapons  not  carnal,  which  it  provides,  man  is  made 
mighty  through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strongholds.  "  As 
you  seem  to  think  so  much  of  the  Bible,  I  suppose  you  read  and 
study  it  carefully? "  "  Yes;  I  carry  one  along  with  me,  and  read 
it  every  day."  "  Do  you  try  to  live  up  to  its  precepts  ?  "  (t  Yes, 
I  try ;  but  not  as  I  ought."  "  God  says,  '  In  keeping  them, 
there  is  great  reward.'  The  Bible  says,  c  Watch  and  pray.'  Do 
you  pray  ?  "  "  Not  much  now.  I  prayed  at  home."  "  Prayed 
at  home ;  but  not  much  now !  In  the  army  is  the  very  place, 
above  all  others,  where  we  all  ought  to  pray.  Here,  where  we 
are  exposed  to  so  many  temptations,  we  should  pray  always." 
Warning  him  of  his  danger,  and  urging  him  to  immediate 
repentance,  and  beseeching  him  to  fly  to  the  Saviour,  we  bid  him 
good-by.  He  got  well. 

"SOMEHOW  IT  WORKED  UPON  ME." 

" Good-morning,  Stephen  !  How  do  you  do  to-day ? "  "I 
am  some  better  to-day,  chaplain,  I  thank  you.  My  wound  is 
better,  and  my  appetite  is  improving;  and  I  am  gaining  strength, 
and  coming  up  every  way."  "How  are  you  religiously?"  "I 
am  all  right  religiously,  I  think,  sir.  I  have  been  a  great  swearer 
and  an  awful  wicked  man,  but  I  feel  that  I  have  undergone  a 
great  change  lately."  "  Be  not  deceived,  God  is  not  mocked. 
Our  hearts  are  so  deceitful,  we  may  think  we  are  all  right  when 
we  are  all  wrong.  It  is  a  very  nice  point  to  be  *  all  right.' " 
"  Yes,  I  know  it  is,  chaplain ;  but  I  feel  that  I  am  a  converted 
man."  "  When  were  you  converted?"  "About  three  months 
ago."  "  Where  ?  "  "  In  Chestnut  Hill  Hospital,  near  Philadel- 
phia, Pa."  "  What  were  the  means  of  your  conversion  ?  "  "A 


240  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

worldly  man  read  a  chapter  in  the  Bible  in  the  ward,  one  day, 
and  somehow  it  worked  upon  me,  while  we  were  playing  bluff. 
I  went  to  church,  and  prayed,  and  thought  on  God."  "  You 
seemed  to  have  been  deeply  convicted  by  hearing  that  chapter  of 
the  word  of  God?"  "Yes,  my  sins  seemed  very  great  and 
heavy ;  but  I  believe  now  God  has  forgiven  me ;  and  I  feel  pre- 
pared, and  am  not  afraid  to  die.  God  is  all  my  trust ;  besides 
him  there  is  no  Saviour;  neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other, 
for  there  is  no  other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men 
whereby  we  must  be  saved."  "  There  is  only  one  way  of  salva- 
tion. That  is  enough.  Jesus  says,  '  I  am  the  way.' "  "  Yes, 
chaplain,  that  is  enough.  I  feel  that  the  Lord  has  done  great 
things  for  me !  "  "And  all  brought  about  by  that  worldly  man 
reading  a  chapter  in  the  Bible  ?  "  "  Yes,  that  has  been  owned 
and  blessed  of  God,  I  believe,  to  my  salvation."  "  What  a 
glorious  work  :  'A  great  swearer'  saved  through  a  worldly  man's 
reading  a  chapter  in  the  Bible !  How  clearly  this  demonstrates 
that  ( the  word  of  God  is  quick  and  powerful ; '  that  '  the  law  of 
the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul.'  Somehow  it  worked 
upon  you  ?  "  "  Yes."  "  But  I  suppose  you  cannot  tell  how  ?  " 
"  No,  I  cannot  tell  particularly ;  light  seemed  to  flash  upon 
my  mind;  I  saw  and  felt  my  sins  were  great,  and,  realizing 
my  need  of  a  Saviour,  I  cried  to  God  for  mercy ;  and  I  believe 
he  has  changed  my  heart  and  washed  my  guilty  soul."  "  Yes,  it 
is  all  mysterious.  The  word  of  God  is  the  instrument,  and  the 
Spirit  of  God  is  the  agent,  in  conversion.  "We  know,  in  this  great 
change,  that  the  mind  is  enlightened,  that  the  will  is  subdued, 
and  the  heart  changed ;  but  as  to  the  manner  how  it  is  effected  is 
mysterious.  The  Saviour  compares  the  operations  of  the  Spirit 
in  regeneration  to  the  blowing  of  the  wind,  which  { we  can't  tell 
whence  it  cometh  or  whither  it  goeth ;  so  is  every  one  that  is  born 
of  the  Spirit.'  All  we  can  tell  about  it  is,  as  you  say, '  Somehow 
it  worked  upon  me.'  We  know  it  by  the  effects  produced,  as  we 
know  that  the  wind  blows,  because  we  can  feel  it,  and  see  its 
effects ;  so  we  may  know  that  we  are  converted,  although  we 
cannot  tell  how  the  change  was  brought  about."  And,  as  we  see 
in  such  a  striking  manner  the  power  of  God's  word  in  this  case 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  241 

how  all-important  is  it  to  "Search  the  Scriptures."  And  inasmuch 
as  this  "great  swearer"  was  converted  through  the  instrumentality 
of  ua  man  of  the  world,"  how  strong  are  the  inducements  for  sin- 
ners to  labor  for  the  conversion  of  sinners;  or,  in  the  language  of 
the  Spirit  and  the  bride,  "  let  him  that  heareth  say,  come." 

"GOD  STILL  STICKS  TO  ME." 

During  the  last  few  months  of  my  labors  in  the  hospital,  I 
very  frequently  conversed  with  JOHN  JONES,  Co.  E,  of  the  10th 
Reg.  Western  Va.  Vol.  He  lay  in  the  western  end  of  ward 
number  two,  noted  for  containing  so  many  badly  wounded  pa- 
tients. He  was  severely  wounded  in  one  of  the  last  battles  near 
Petersburg,  Va.,  and  brought  to  the  hospital  soon  after.  He 
said  he  had  been  converted  in  the  army,  and  that  he  enjoyed 
religion,  and  that  he  derived  much  comfort  from  it.  When  I 
asked  him,  "Do  you  trust  in  the  Saviour?"  he  promptly  re- 
plied, "  I  will  trust  in  him  till  I  die.  Jesus  is  my  guide  until 
death."  Conscious  of  his  need  of  help,  and  realizing  his  depend- 
ence upon  God,  he  was  very  anxious  to  be  prayed  for.  I  preached 
to  him,  conversed  and  prayed  with  him  very  often;  and  he  seemed 
to  grow  in  grace  until  May  27,  when  he  appeared  to  rise  above 
all  doubts,  and  was  enabled  to  say,  "  All  is  well ;  I  am  going  to 
die."  "Would  you  be  afraid  to  die?"  "Oh,  no;  I  have  no 
fear  of  death.  When  '  all  is  well/  to  die  is  gain,  and  to  depart 
is  far  better."  Wrapped  in  a  kind  of  vision,  he  said,  "  I  heard 
singing  in  heaven  last  night,  as  I  awoke  out  of  sleep."  Patient, 
humble,  meek,  and  resigned,  although  his  sufferings  were  long 
and  severe,  not  a  murmur  was  heard  to  fall  from  his  lips.  He 
was  so  submissive  that  he  seemed  to  lie  passive  in  the  arms  of 
Jesus.  At  another  interview,  among  other  strong  expressions 
of  his  faith,  he  said,' "  God  still  sticks  to  me."  "  Do  you  feel  his 
presence?"  "Oh,  yes;  he  is  very  near  to  me."  "And  do  you 
still  try  to  stick  to  him?"  "Yes;  though  he  slay  me,  yet  will 
I  trust  in  him."  "  May  God  bless  you,  and  enable  you  to  'stand 
fast  in  the  Lord.'  God  commands  us  to  'war  a  good  warfare,' 
to  contend  earnestly,  to  fight,  and  strive  to  enter  in  at  the  straight 
10 


242  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

gate.  '  Jesus  is  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother.' 
Just  cling  to  and  hold  on  to  him,  and  he  will  bring  you  off  more 
than  conqueror.  How  grand  and  glorious  your  position ! "  Gazing 
into  the  eternal  world,  with  its  stern  realities  rising  in  full  view, 
with  death  knocking  at  his  door,  he  was  able  to  say,  "All  is 
well."  What  an  all-comprehensive  word !  Spiritually,  it  im- 
plies pardon,  resignation,  peace,  joy,  readiness,  and  willingness 
to  die  and  go  home  to  glory.  John  Jones  stood  the  battle  of 
life  until  June  21,  1865,  when  it  seemed  the  victory  was  com- 
plete, and  his  blood-washed  soul,  we  trust,  went  home  to  heaven. 
"  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord." 


"OH,  CHAPLAIN!   WHAT  WILL  I  DO?" 

Most  earnestly  and  piteously  exclaimed  JOHN  CURRY,  when 
I  approached  him  as  he  lay  upon  his  long  occupied  bed  in  the 
corner  of  a  tent  in  the  north  part  of  "  New  Camp."  "  Do  you 
ask  what  to  do  to  be  saved?"  "Yes,"  weeping  profusely. 
"  Trust  in  the  Lord.  Believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou 
shalt  be  saved.  There,  John,  is  the  plan  of  salvation  in  a  nut- 
shell. '  Only  believe.'  Renounce  and  let  go  of  everything  else, 
and  throw  yourself  right  into  the  arms  of  Jesus,  and  he  will  save 
you."  I  had  visited  him  often  before,  and  as  I  approached  him 
this  time,  he  warmly  grasped  my  hand,  threw  his  arm  around 
my  neck,  and  hugged  me  up  to  him  very  affectionately.  He 
seemed  very  penitent  and  prayerful ;  and  after  pointing  him  again 
to  the  Saviour,  holding  him  up  to  him  as  one  able,  willing,  and 
mighty  to  save,  and  beseeching  him  by  the  mercies  of  God  to 
come  unto  him,  at  his  request  I  read  and  prayed  with  him.  He 
belonged  to  the  army  of  the  James,  but  having  forgotten  to  note 
down  his  company,  we  cannot  tell  to  what  regiment  he  belonged. 
He  was  wounded  May  9,  1864,  in  battle,  and  had  his  leg  cut  off 
<m  the  field.  "  Johnnie "  was  a  good  boy,  generous,  kind,  and 
afiable;  he  was  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  Indeed, 
he  was  a  favorite  of  the  camp.  His  long,  severe  sufferings 
elicited  the  sympathies  of  the  matron,  and  she  took  good  care  of 
him.  Chaplain  Raymond  visited  and  prayed  with  him  also, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  243 

At  my  next  call,  finding  him  still  anxious  about  his  salvation,  I 
urged  him  still  stronger  to  surrender  himself  to  the  Saviour,  and 
besought  him,  by  the  example  of  the  prodigal  son,  to  make  up 
his  mind  to  become  a  Christian.  "  Look  at  that  poor  prodigal, 
John.  He  had  everything  plenty  at  home,  but  becoming  dis- 
satisfied, he  demanded  his  fortune,  and,  on  receiving  it,  took  a 
journey  into  a  far  country,  where  he  wasted  his  substance  in 
riotous  living.  By-and-by  there  arose  a  mighty  famine  in  that 
land,  and  he  began  to  be  in  want.  After  a  while  he  began  to 
consider,  and  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  said, '  How  many  hired 
servants  in  my  father's  house  have  bread  enough  and  to  spare, 
and  I  perish  here  with  hunger.'  He  makes  up  his  mind,  and  says, 
in  words  grave  and  sublime,  '  I  will  arise,  I  will  arise,  and  go 
to  my  father,  and  will  say  unto  him :  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
heaven,  and  in  thy  sight.  I  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy 
son/  and  feeling  his  unworthiness,  he  prays  to  be  made  as  one 
of  his  servants.  Here  are  two  very  encouraging  facts,  John.  First, 
the  perishing  sinner,  or  the  wandering  prodigal,  resolves  to  return, 
and  says, '  I  will  arise ; '  and  second,  as  the  result  of  his  resolution, 
we  soon  find  him  at  home  in  his  father's  house.  Oh,  then,  John, 
let  me  entreat  you  this  day  to  resolve  to  come  to  God.  Now, 
will  you  arise?  Your  country  called,  and  you  obeyed.  You 
have  already  lost  your  leg,  and  will  probably  soon  lose  your 
life.  But  the  loss  of  a  limb  and  the  loss  of  your  life  are 
both  great,  but  nothing  compared  with  the  loss  of  your  immor- 
tal soul.  Oh,  then,  look  and  live,  believe  and  be  saved.  Think 
of  the  love  of  Christ  in  suffering  and  dying  to  save  you.  And 
here  he  is,  here  in  your  tent,  crying,  *  Come  unto  me,  and  I  will 
give  you  rest.' 

« Jesus  ready  stands  to  save, 
Full  of  pity,  love,  and  power.'  " 

He  was  much  engaged  in  prayer,  and,  though  brought  up  a 
Catholic,  he  now  seemed  to  be  a  converted  boy.  Surviving  the 
warm  months  of  summer,  he  fell  with  the  autumn  leaf,  about  the 
middle  of  October,  1864,  and  went,  we  trust,  to  swell  the  ranks 
of  the  redeemed  in  heaven. 


244  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"I  AM  ON  THE  DEVIL'S  SIDE." 

Although  there  is  some  similarity  in  the  religious  views,  feel- 
ings, and  experiences  of  the  soldiers,  there  is  also  something  new 
and  peculiar  in  almost  every  case.  In  canvassing  the  stony  heart 
of  Henry  Campbell,  13th  Tenn.,  Co.  B,  though  frank  and  free 
to  talk  on  religious  topics,  we  found  him  indifferent  about  the 
one  thing  needful.  When  I  questioned  him  about  his  manner 
of  life,  he  frankly  replied,  "  I  have  lived  a  careless  and  prayer- 
less  life ;  but  I  have  recently  quit  swearing."  "  To  quit  swearing 
is  a  very  encouraging  step  ;  it  is  a  sign  of  a  purpose  to  reform. 
And  yet  we  may  reform  to  some  extent  outwardly  without  any 
reformation  at  heart.  The  world  is  divided  into  two  great  par- 
ties. Satan  has  his  party,  and  Christ  has  his.  And  as  Moses, 
when  he  came  down  from  the  mount,  filled  with  indignation 
upon  beholding  the  idolatry  of  the  children  of  Israel,  ex- 
claimed, '  Who  is  on  the  Lord's  side, '  here  let  me  ask  '  on 
whose  side  are  you,  Henry  ?  ' "  "  I  am  on  the  devil's  side,"  he 
replied.  "  Why  don't  you  come  over  ?  "  "  Oh,  I  don't  know ; 
I  mean  to  do  better  hereafter."  "  You  mean  to  do  better  here- 
after ?  Why  not  now  ?  God  says,  '  Now  is  the  accepted  time ; ' 
God  ( now  commandeth  all  men  everywhere  to  repent.' "  "  Yes ; 
but  I  don't  want  to  be  in  a  hurry,  sir."  "You  ought  to  be. 
Time  is  short.  David  made  haste,  and  delayed  not  to  keep  God's 
commandments."  "  I  don't  suppose  I  am  ready  to  become  a 
Christian  now."  "You  say  you  are  on  the  devil's  side;  and  you 
know  the  certain  result  of  dying  in  his  service  is  endless  torment. 
Are  you  making  any  eiforts  to  become  a  Christian  ?  "  "  Yes ;  I 
try  to  pray,  but  cannot  make  much  out."  "Perhaps  you  do 
not  try  much,  or  it  may  be  you  pray  better  than  you  suppose. 
Prayer  is  not  eloquence  of  speech,  but  brokenness  of  heart  and 
contrition  of  soul.  It  is  the  heart  that  prays.  You  may  have 
fine  words  and  beautiful  sentences,  and  have  no  prayer.  Prayer 
is  very  simple.  It  is  asking  God  for  what  you  want.  If  you 
are  hungry,  you  know  how  to  ask  for  bread.  If  you  want  sal- 
vation, ask  God,  believing,  and  he  will  grant  it.  Prayer  is  really 
a  means  of  power.  In  answers  to  the  prayers  of  the  church, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  245 

Peter  was  released  from  prison.  In  answer  to  prayer,  fire  falls 
iix»m  heaven,  the  blind  see,  the  lame  walk,  devils  are  cast  out, 
the  lost  are  saved,  and  the  dead  are  made  alive.  The  publican 
prayed,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner/  and  his  sins  were  par- 
doned. Sinking  Peter  prayed,  '  Lord,  save  me ! '  and  immedi- 
ately Jesus  rescued  him  from  a  watery  grave.  The  dying  thief 
prayed,  '  Jesus,  Lord,  remember  me ! '  and  his  soul  was  snatched 
from  a  gaping  hell,  and  wafted  home  to  heaven.  And  if  you 
will  pray  earnestly,  God  will  save  you." 

"PRAY  FOR  ME,  CHAPLAIN,  TILL  I  DIE," 

Exclaimed  the  noble  young  SAMUEL  RUPENER,  116th  Ohio, 
Co.  E,  as  his  life  was  rapidly  ebbing  away,  from  wounds  re- 
ceived in  one  of  the  last  great  battles  at  Petersburg,  Va.  I 
had  gone  over  to  the  boat,  and  while  searching  for  mortally 
wounded  men,  the  brave-hearted  Rufener  caught  my  eye,  as  he 
lay  upon  his  narrow  bed,  with  his  mangled  body  bathed  in  his 
own  blood.  Seeing  that  he  was  nigh  unto  death,  I  canvassed 
his  warm  heart,  and  took  down  his  spiritual  diagnosis,  on  the 
boat,  before  I  left  him,  lest  he  might  die  before  reaching  the 
hospital.  Upon  examining  the  grounds  of  his  hopes  for  the 
future,  he  said  "  he  trusted  in  the  Lord."  "  He  is  the  only  way 
of  salvation,"  I  replied.  "  How  does  the  Saviour  appear  to 
you  ?  "  "  He  seems  dear  and  precious  to  me ;  he  is  a  very  pres- 
ent help  in  trouble."  He  seemed  to  enjoy  religion,  and  said  that 
he  loved  the  Saviour.  Pointing  him  to  the  cross,  and  commend- 
ing hini  to  the  mercy  of  God,  we  left  him  and  passed  on,  looking 
for  others.  He  was  always  of  easy  access,  pleasant,  and  free  to 
talk.  Conscious  of  his  dependence  upon  God,  he  was  prayerful, 
and  accustomed  to  hardness,  suffering,  and  death,  and  entertaining 
"  a  good  hope,"  he  seemed  composed  and  resigned.  He  was  car- 
ried on  a  stretcher  to  ward  number  two  and  laid  on  bed  No.  35, 
where  I  again  talked  and  preached  to  him  and  his  ward  a  few 
hours  before  he  died.  He  was  very  anxious  to  have  me  re- 
main with  him.  And  although  it  is  now  six  years  since  he 
fell,  and  although  I  visited  hundreds  of  patients  daily,  we 
remember  his  case  very  well.  Asking  him  again  about  his 


246  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

spiritual  condition,  he  responded,  "  I  feel  happy  in  the  Lord  ;" 
and  believing  in  the  power  of  prayer,  he  anxiously  said  to  me, 
"  Pray  for  me  till  I  die."  This  was  April  7,  1 865,  his  last  day 
on  earth,  as  he  departed  that  night ;  and,  having  laid  down  his 
life  for  his  country,  he  went,  we  trust,  to  dwell  with  Him  who 
laid  down  his  life  that  we  might  live.  Though  he  lived  through 
the  war,  and  fell  in  the  last  great  struggle,  it  was  a  satisfaction 
to  see  the  rebellion  quelled,  notwithstanding  it  cost  him  his  life. 
The  following  touching  letter  was  received  from  the  family  to 
which  he  belonged,  soon  after  his  death.  It  is  full  of  sorrow  and 
affection. 

HANNIBAL,  Mo.  COUNTY  OHIO,  "I 
May  5th,  1865.        i 

CHAPLAIN  A.  S.  BILLJNGSLEY. 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND,  AND  BROTHER  IN  CHRIST:  Grace  be 
to  you !  — Again  I  take  the  pen  to  inform  you  that  we  received 
your  letters  which  contained  the  sad  message  of  our  dear  son  and 
brother  Samuel,  that  he  died  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.  It  was 
surely  a  hard  stroke  for  us.  But  we  know  the  Lord  makes  every- 
thing right ;  we  therefore  say,  "  Lord,  not  our,  but  thy  will 
be  done."  We  feel  very  thankful  to  God  that  we  can  hear  that 
he  was  happy  in  the  Lord,  and  enjoyed  religion ;  this  is  of  more 
worth  to  us  than  if  you  could  tell  us  he  owned  ten  worlds,  and 
died  without  it.  We  know,  if  we  hold  out  faithful  till  our  end, 
we  shall  all  get  to  see  him,  and  "meet  to  part  no  more."  Oh, 
how  I  long  for  the  time  to  come !  I  often  felt,  to  say  so, 
homesick  for  my  eternal  home;  but  now  I  feel  it  more  and 
more,  my  dear  brother  is  there !  Oh,  that  I  wras  there !  I 
know  my  dear  Saviour  will  come,  and  will  take  me  home  sooner 
or  later.  I  will  still  try  to  make  my  way  to  heaven.  Jesus  is 
the  best  friend  I  have :  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  lives ;  he 
saved  me  from  my  lost  estate.  I  hope  to  find  you  once  in  heaven, 
where  I  can  tell  you  my  feelings  better  than  now.  We  hope  and 
pray  to  God  that  he  may  repay  you  richly  for  your  love  and 
kindness  which  you  have  showed  so  kindly  toward  us,  but  most 
to  our  dear  Samuel.  We  hope  you  will  find  the  fruit  in  heaven 
-vhich  you  have  sowed  at  Fortress  Monroe. 

Dear  friend  :  we  received  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Capt.  A.  Ingram, 
from  the  eighth  of  April,  1865,  in  which  she  told  us  that  he  gave 
her  his  pocket-book  to  send  home,  which  contained  ten  dollars ; 
but  she  gave  it  back  to  him.  If  it  is  there,  get  it.  We  wish 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  247 

you  could  take  some  of  it  for  your  trouble;  and  if  there  will  be 
something  left,  if  you  please,  send  it  by  mail  to  us.  His  other 
effects,  we  think,  are  not  much  of  any  account.  The  remains 
of  his  body  we  will  let  lay  where  they  are.  Jesus  will  find  and 
call  them  there  as  well  as  here.  Last  Sunday,. Rev.  J.  C.  Kopp, 
German  Methodist  preacher,  preached  the  funeral  for  him  over 
the  text  recorded  in  the  Revelation  of  St.  John,  14th  chapter,  13th 
verse.  It  was  a  blessed  time  for  our  souls.  I  must  close. 

Dear  sir :  I  would  like  to  know  where  you  live  when  at  home; 
it  might  happen  that  I  could  see  you  once  yet  on  this  world ; 
therefore  I  would  like  to  have  your  direction,  if  you  could  send 
it.  My  father  would  have  wrote  to  you ;  but  we  are  German 
people,  and  he  cannot  write  English ;  excuse  him  therefore. 
Excuse  my  bad  writing  and  mistakes. 

We  all  love  you  dearly,  and  feel  thankful  to  God  and  to  you. 
May  God  bless  you  richly.     Our  best  love  and  respects  to  you. 
Your  true 

FRIENDS. 


"  I  WOULD  AS  SOON  GO  TO  MY  HEAVENLY  HOME." 

"  The  power  of  association  is  great,  and  the  exercise  of  that 
power  often  produces  feelings  both  pleasing  and  mournful  to 
the  soul."  Returning,  for  example,  after  a  long  absence,  to  the 
grave  of  a  beloved  father,  mother,  brother,  sister,  little  babe, 
and  how  do  the  mournful  scenes  of  the  past  crowd  upon  you ! 
Pierced  with  sorrow,  bathed  in  tears,  and  hushed  in  silence,  you 
stand  around  the  sacred  spot,  and,  under  the  influence  of  height- 
ened emotions,  you  are  ready  to  speak  to  the  very  dead,  and  say, 
"  Farewell  to  the  dearest  object  of  your  tenderest  affections."  I 
have  seen  the  bereaved  widow,  riding  in  the  cars,  suddenly  burst 
into  tears  upon  passing  the  fatal  spot  where  her  dear  husband 
had  been  accidentally  killed  by  striking  his  head  against  a  tele- 
graph post.  And  I  have  seen  soldiers,  whom  you  could  scarcely 
touch  with  the  melting  scenes  of  Gethsemane  and  Calvary,  melt 
into  tears  when  you  would  begin  to  talk  to  them  about  mother, 
and  the  pleasures  of  home.  Merely  to  speak  of  that  sweet  word, 
would  stir  his  soul  and  touch  his  heart,  and  so  far,  for  a  time, 
transfer  him  back  to  old  scenes  and  associations  that  he  would 
revel  in  the  sweet  recollections  of  past  enjoyments.  "And  yet," 


248  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAE. 

said  Hiram  Dickson,  112th  N.  Y.,  Co.  D,  "I  would  as  soon  go 
to  my  heavenly  home  as  to  my  native  home,"  as  we  were  con- 
versing with  him  about  his  spiritual  interests.  "  That  is  a  very 
wise  choice,  Hiram;  heaven  is  always  preferable  to  earth,  not- 
withstanding all  its  grandeur  and  glory.  Paul,  when  lying  and 
suffering  severely  in  a  dingy  prison  at  Rome,  in  view  of  his  ex- 
pected speedy  departure,  with  a  full  foretaste  of  heaven,  exclaimed, 
'To  die  is  gain,  and  to  depart  is  far  better/"  At  our  first  in- 
terview with  this  heroic  patriot,  we  found  him  exhibiting  every 
mark  of  penitence  and  resignation.  He  said  that  he  had  sought 
and  found  the  Saviour  in  the  low  lands  of  Florida,  and  that  he 
had  been  enjoying  a  bright  hope  for  several  months.  At  his 
request,  we  often  read  and  prayed  with  him ;  and  being  full  of 
faith,  he  derived  such  a  degree  of  comfort  from  God's  promises 
and  a  Saviour's  love  that  he  preferred  his  home  in  heaven  to  his 
home  on  earth.  And  well  he  might,  because,  with  all  the  endear- 
ments and  enjoyments  of  home,  it  is  nothing  compared  to  heaven. 
Here,  wTe  are  infants  ;  there,  perfect  men  in  Christ  Jesus.  Here, 
we  are  soldiers  in  battle;  there,  kings  and  priests  unto  God, 
crowned  with  glory  and  honor.  Here,  wre  suffer  and  fight;  there, 
we  reign  and  rejoice  forevermore.  The  Christian  sometimes  on 
earth  gets  so  near  to  God,  and  enjoys  such  a  bright  manifestation 
of  his  presence,  that  he  realizes  "a  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory."  Enjoying  this  in  a  high  degree,  Payson  said,  "  I  seemed 
to  swim  in  a  flood  of  glory,  which  rolled  around  me  like  a  sea 
of  light."  Edwards,  while  alone  in  a  solitary  mountain,  enjoyed 
such  a  sense  of  God's  presence,  that  he  seemed  entirely  detached 
from  the  world,  and  lost  and  "  swallowed  up  in  God."  John 
Welsh  exclaimed,  shortly  before  he  died,  "  Lord,  hold  thy  hand : 
it  is  enough ;  thy  servant  is  a  clay  vessel,  and  can  hold  no  more." 
Oh.  what"  unspeakable  bliss  there  is  to  be  enjoyed  here  on  earth. 
And  yet  all  this  is  but  an  earnest  of  heaven.  Here  the  wicked 
trouble,  but  the  moment  we  pass  "  the  threshold  of  glory,"  they 
cease,  and  the  rest  remaineth  undisturbed  forever.  There,  en- 
shrined in  God,  and  wearing  crowns  of  glory  and  palms  of  vic- 
tory, the  redeemed  will  sit  down-  upon  God's  throne,  and  forever 
rule  and  reign  with  him  in  glory.  And  even  there,  bathed  "  in 


CHRISTIANITY     IN    THE    WAB.  249 

seas  of  heavenly  rest,"  will  doubtless  advance  from  strength  to 
strength  and  from  glory  to  glory,  and,  like  two  mathematical 
lines,  be  forever  drawing  nearer  and  nearer  unto  God,  without  ever 
reaching  that  which  is  inaccessible.  There  are  no  stations  in  heaven. 
No :  doubtless  it  is  one  eternal  progression  in  light,  joy,  and  glory. 
There,  even  the  angels,  with  all  their  knowledge  and  perfection, 
desire  to  learn  and  look  into  the  mysteries  of  redemption.  How 
much  soever  we  may  know  and  enjoy  of  Christ  here,  our  cry  still 
is,  "  My  soul  thirsteth  for  God."  And  doubtless,  when  we  will 
have  been  there  ten  thousand  years,  our  cry  will  still  be  the  same, 
"  My  soul  thirsteth  for  God."  Moses,  with  all  his  glorious 
sights,  near  approaches,  and  close  communions  with  God,  still 
longs  for  more,  and  earnestly  prays,  "God,  I  beseech  thee,  show 
me  thy  glory."  Paul,  though  twenty  years  in  Christ,  when 
caught  up  to  the  third  heaven,  and  saw  what  was  not  possible 
for  man  to  utter,  yet,  like  a  babe  in  Christ,  still  prays,  "  That  I 
may  know  him."  Glorious,  wonderful  progression  !  Seated  on 
God's  throne,  and  yet  rising  higher  and  higher.  Dwelling  in 
God,  and  yet  forever  drawing  nearer  and  nearer  unto  him. 
Filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  God,  and  yet  forever  filling. 
And  even  there,  upon  these  lofty  heights  of  grandeur  and  glory, 
will  be  heard  a  voice  issuing  from  the  throne,  "  Come  up  higher ! 
come  up  higher!"  And  it  was,  no  doubt,  Hiram  Dickson's 
clear  conception  of  the  happiness  and  glory  of  heaven  that  led 
him  to  prefer  "his  heavenly  to  his  native  home."  He  had 
seen  something  of  worldly  and  military  glory.  He  had  seen 
one  mighty  army  fight  and  vanquish  another,  and  retire  from 
the  gory  field  crowned  with  glory  and  honor.  But  what,  we 
ask,  are  these  and  all  earthly  glory,  compared  with  "  the  eternal 
weight  of  glory  at  God's  right  hand."  Contrast  earth  with 
heaven.  How  is  earth  dwarfed,  eclipsed,  and  cast  into  the  shade. 
Lying  tranquil  in  the  arms  of  Jesus,  he  lingered  until  January 
18,  18G4,  when  his  disembodied  spirit,  washed  in  a  Saviour's 
blood,  went  home  to  dwell  with  God.  "  To  die  is  gain." 


250  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"I  AM  TOO  WICKED  TO  COME  TO  JESUS." 

"What !  too  wicked  to  come  to  Jesus !  Oh,  no ;  what  makes 
you  think  so  ?  Christ's  love,  mercy,  and  power  are  all  in- 
finite, and  he  can  save  a  big  sinner  just  as  easy  as  a  little  one. 
His  atonement  is  of  infinite  value.  His  blood  cleanseth  from 
all  sin."  "  I  know  he  says  so ;  but  I  am  such  a  great  sinner." 
"Yes;  but  Christ  is  a  great  Saviour:  he  is  able,  willing,  mighty 
to  save,  even  to  the  uttermost,  all  that  cometh  unto  God  by  him. 
David  urges  the  greatness  of  his  sins  as  an  argument  for  pardon, 
and  prays  in  these  remarkable  words,  '  For  thy  name's  sake,  O 
Lord,  pardon  mine  iniquity;  for  it  is  great/  Then,  don't  be 
discouraged ;  your  great  wickedness  is  no  hindrance  in  coming 
to  Jesus.  No ;  the  greater  your  sins,  the  greater  your  need  of  a 
Saviour.  If  you  had  no  sin,  you  would  have  no  need  of  a 
Saviour.  Jesus  has  saved  some  of  the  vilest  sinners.  Paul,  the 
blasphemer  and  persecutor,  called  himself  the  chief  of  sinners, 
but  Jesus  saved  him.  Manasseh  was  a  great  sinner,  guilty  of 
witchcraft,  gross  idolatry,  and  murder,  and  even  made  the  streets 
of  Jerusalem  run  red  with  blood,  yet  Jesus  forgave  his  sins, 
washed  and  saved  his  soul.  Jesus  saved  the  thief  on  the  cross. 
Jesus  saved  some  of  his  own  murderers  who  put  him  to  the 
shameful,  ignominious  death  of  crucifixion.  And  do  you  think 
you  are  worse  than  they?"  "Well,  I  suppose  not,"  "Oh, 
then,  be  encouraged ;  despair  not ;  *  while  there  is  life,  there  is 
hope.' 

•While  the  lamp  holds  out  to  burn, 
The  vilest  sinner  may  return.' 

"What  kind  of  a  life  have  you  lived ?  "  "I  have  lived  care- 
less and  thoughtless  about  religion."  "Do  you  ever  pray9'' 
"No."  "Now  do  you  -really  feel  that  you  are  so  'wicked'?' 
"  Yes,  I  feel  so."  "  Sin  is  so  blinding  and  deceiving,  that  some- 
times  the  greatest  sinners  have  but  very  little  conception  of  their 
sins.  This,  I  suppose,  is  probably  the  case  with  you.  When 
you  deeply  feel  the  weight  of  your  sins,  you  wrill  begin  to  pra) , 
and  ask  God  for  '  pardon.'  If  you  only  felt  your  sins  to  be  as 
great  as  you  acknowledge  them  to  be,  you  would  begin  at  once 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  251 

to  pray  like  the  publican,  '  God  be  merciful  unto  me  a  sinner/ 
or  cry,  like  sinking  Peter,  '  Lord,  save  me.'  Your  great  want, 
then,  is  light  —  light  to  see  yourself  as  you  are,  and  to  understand 
the  way  of  salvation.  Oh,  then,  go  to  God  in  prayer.  Pray  like 
David,  '  O  Lord,  open  thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  won- 
drous things  out  of  thy  law/  You  can't  get  rid  of  your  sins 
unless  you  do  come  to  Christ.  He  is  the  only  sin-bearer.  That 
dying  thief,  while  hanging  on  the  cross,  simply  prayed  'Jesus, 
Lord,  remember  me,'  and  the  Lord  saved  him.  Then  be  en- 
couraged, and  begin  now  to  pray.  Your  sins  are  not  so  great  as 
his  were.  Jesus  is  the  same  now  that  he  was  then.  His  blood 
is  as  efficacious  now  as  then ;  and  if  you  will  only  throw  yourself 
upon  his  mercy,  he  will  save  you.  Remember,  my  friend,  if  you 
ever  get  to  heaven,  you  must  make  the  start.  You  must  forsake 
your  evil  ways;  cease  to  do  evil,  and  learn  to  do  well.  When 
the  Saviour  commenced  preaching,  he  began  by  saying,  'Repent, 
repent  ye;  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.'  It  is  noble 
to  be  a  soldier  of  your  country,  but  it  is  far  more  important  to 
be  a  soldier  of  the  cross.  You  may  die  to  save  your  country, 
and  yet  die  and  be  lost.  It  is  a  very  easy  thing  to  be  lost. 
Just  live  on  as  you  have  been  doing,  in  your  wilful  neglect  of  the 
Saviour,  and  your  damnation  is  sure.  Oh,  then,  rise  out  of  that 
thick  darkness  that  makes  you  think  you  are  'too  wicked  to  come 
to  Jesus.'  Such  thoughts  come  from  the  devil.  He  is  always 
laboring  to  deceive  us,  and  keep  us  away  from  the  cross.  And 
the  only  remedy  is  to  fly  to  Jesus  just  as  you  are.  Yes,  come 
to  Jesus  just  as  you  are.  You  can't  become  any  better  by  delay. 
No: 

1  The  longer  wisdom  you  despise, 
The  harder  is  she  to  be  won." 

Oh,  then,  fly  to  the  Saviour ;  step  right  out  on  the  promises  of 
God,  like  sinking  Peter,  and  lay  hold  of  Christ  by  faith,  and  he 
will  save  you.  May  the  love  of  Christ  constrain  you.  May  his 
Spirit  woo  you  until  you  yield  to  the  riches  of  his  grace,  and 
bow  to  the  sceptre  of  his  saving  power.  Will  you  try  ? "  "I 
'will."  "  The  Lord  help  you."- 


252  CHKISTIAXITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"GOD  GRABBED  ME  INTO  HIS  HEART  AT  ONCE." 

It  was  just  as  the  last  lingering  rays  of  the  setting  sun  played 
upon  the  broad  stripes  of  the  dear  old  flag  waving  over  the 
hospital,  that  I  fell  in  conversation  with  Edmund  Johnson,  37th 
U.  S.,  Co.  G,  as  he  lay  upon  his  bed  in  his  ward.  We  held  up 
before  him  the  law,  with  its  precepts,  threats,  and  penalties,  and 
the  gospel  with  its  promises  and  rewards.  But  he  frankly 
replied,  "  I  don't  know  much  about  it  in  de  books ;  but  I  know 
something  about  it  in  my  heart.  I  labored  hard  to  get  it  into 
my  heart."  "  It  is  well  to  have  the  law  and  gospel  in  the  head ; 
but  it  is  far  better  to  have  it  in  the  heart.  When  the  Saviour 
said,  '  Thy  law  is  within  my  heart/  he  exclaimed,  ( I  delight  to 
do  thy  will,  O  my  God ! '  It  is  having  the  law  in  our  hearts 
that  brings  about  our  salvation ;  for  it  is  the  heart  God  seeks. 
It  matters  but  little  who  has  the  head,  if  Satan  has  the  heart. 
The  heart  governs.  This  is  what  gives  the  Christian  religion 
such  power;  it  takes  possession  of  and  controls  the  heart;  and  if 
you  take  the  heart  out  of  it,  you  leave  it  a  lifeless  corpse.  How 
very  wise,  therefore,  to  ( labor  hard  to  get  it  into  our  hearts.' 
How  did  you  labor  to  get  it  into  your  heart?  what  did  you  do?  " 
il  I  prayed  j  I  called  loud  on  de  Lord,  and  he  grabbed  me  into 
his  heart  at  once."  "  Think  you  have  got  God  in  your  heart?" 
"  Yes,  I  think  so."  "  Then  endeavor,  by  all  means,  to  hold  on 
to  him.  You  in  God,  and  God  in  you ;  what  an  exalted  priv- 
ilege !  God  in  us,  and  we  in  God !  You  must  feel  very  happy, 
Edmund?"  "I  do  feel  happy,  chaplain,  thank  God!" 
"  Snatched  from  the  kingdom  of  darkness  and  grabbed  into  God's 
heart,  with  Christ  formed  in  you  the  hope  of  glory,  you  need 
have  nothing  to  fear ;  for  '  there  is  no  condemnation  to  them 
who  are  in  Christ  Jesus/  The  relation,  or  union,  existing  be- 
tween Christ  and  the  believer  is  very  close  and  intimate.  Christ 
is  the  vine,  and  the  believers  are  the  branches ;  hence  he  says, 
'  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also.'  Again  he  says,- '  I  in  them ; ' 
therefore  let  us  '  abide  in  him/  And  as  you  have  labored  hard 
to  get  'the  word'  and  God  into  your  heart,  strive  to  keep  it 
there.  The  way  to  be  happy  is  to  be  faithful.  '  If  ye  know 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  253 

these  things,  happy  are  ye  if  ye  do  them.'  The  connection  be- 
tween fidelity  and  happiness  is  inseparable.  "  No  cross,  no. 
i TOWII;  "  no  fight,  no  victory;  hence  the  Saviour  says,  '  Be  thou 
faithful  until  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life.' " 


"I  PRAYED  ON,  AND  GOD  CHANGED  MY  HEART." 

"  How  do  you  do  to-day,  Jacob  ?  "  "  Not  very  well,  chaplain." 
"  What  ails  you  ?  "  "  Got  misery  about  my  heart,  and  I  have 
no  appetite  to  eat."  "  How  is  your  heart  with  God  ?  "  "  So  far 
as  I  can  judge,  my  heart  is  right  with  God."  "  Where  did  you 
get  it  fixed?"  "In  Camp  Nelson,  Kentucky."  "When?" 
"  One  year  ago."  "  By  a  right  heart,  I  suppose  you  mean  a 
new  heart,  or  that  you  are  a  converted  man  ?  "  "  Yes,  that  is 
what  I  mean."  "  What  were  the  means  of  your  conversion  ?  " 
"  I  saw  men  dying  around  me.  I  began  to  consider ;  and  the 
thought  struck  me,  I  don't  know  how  soon  it  may  be  my  turn  to 
go ;  and  the  more  I  thought  about  it,  the  deeper  I  felt  concerned 
about  my  soul's  salvation.  The  chaplain  came  in,  read  a  chapter, 
and  talked  to  us  poor  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  about  Jesus, 
and  prayed  for  us;  and  I  was  so  deeply  impressed,  that  I  began 
to  pray,  and  seek  God  myself.  I  prayed  on,  and  sought  the 
Lord,  and,  two  months  after,  God  changed  my  heart."  "  And 
how  have  you  felt  since ? "  "I  feel  very  happy ;  sometimes 
I  feel  like  flying  away  to  heaven.  Praying  is  now  my  daily 
business."  "  Do  you  have  much  liberty  in  prayer  ? "  "  Oh, 
yes,  thank  God !  I  feel  as  though  I  get  very  near  the  throne  of 
grace  sometimes."  "  A  '  fixed  heart '  is  the  source  of  great 
rejoicing.  David,  when  pursued  by  fierce  enemies,  ready  to 
swallow  him  up,  yet,  with  his  heart  stayed  and  fixed  upon  God, 
rises  above  all  fear,  and  says,  '  My  heart  is  fixed,  O  God !  my 
heart  is  fixed.  I  will  sing  and  give  praise!'  Paul,  with  his  heart 
fixed  upon  God,  though  encompassed  with  conflicts  and  trials, 
says,  '  None  of  these  things  move  me.'  With  his  heart  stayed 
and  fixed  upon  God,  the  martyr  unflinchingly  burns  at  the  stake ; 
with  his  heart  stayed  and  fixed  upon  God,  Jesus  undauntedly 
went  forth  to  Calvary,  longing  and  thirsting  for  the  mighty  con- 


254  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAH. 

flict  by  which  he  was  to  rescue  man  from  the  ruins  of  the  fall, 
and  effect  the  salvation  of  the  world."  From  this  case,  let  the 
prayerless  be  encouraged  to  pray.  The  unconverted  often  excuse 
themselves  from  prayer,  and,  to  maintain  their  position,  they  say, 
"  The  prayers  of  the  wicked  are  an  abomination  unto  the  Lord ; " 
yet  it  is  the  bounden  duty  of  all  to  pray.  God  commanded  Simon 
Magus  to  pray,  when  he  was  in  the  gall  of  bitterness  and  in  the 
bond  of  iniquity.  The  unconverted  publican  prayed,  "  God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner !  "  and  God  heard  his  prayer  and  forgave 
his  sins.  Jacob  Ellison,  114th  U.  S.,  Co.  B,  prayed,  and  he  says, 
"  God  changed  my  heart."  Therefore  let  none  excuse  themselves 
from  this  delightful  duty  because  they  are  not  Christians.  God 
says,  "  Seek,  and  ye  shall  find."  If  your  heart  is  not  right  with 
God,  pray  to  have  it  fixed. 


••THE  DEVIL  COAXED  ME  OFF." 

Talented  and  shrewd,  the  soldiers  often  "  got  off"  some  sharp 
things.  Although  many  of  them  were  limited  in  their  education, 
yet  we  frequently  found  among  them  the  thoroughly  educated 
graduate.  Upon  our  first  interview  with  Charles  R.  Akin,  4th 
Mass.  Cavalry,  Co.  B,  we  found  him  of  easy  access,  and  "  full  of 
the  gab."  Upon  approaching  him  on  the  subject  of  religion,  he 
manifested  a  good  deal  of  anxiety  about  his  salvation,  and  ex- 
pressed himself  in  strong  terms  of  having  already  passed  from 
death  unto  life.  He  appeared  prayerful  and  penitent,  and,  said 
he,  "  I  think  God  has  forgiven  my  sins.  God  has  got  me,  and 
has  had  me  for  over  a  year.  I  have  not  done  right  all  that  time, 
I  know;  but  God  has  forgiven  my  wrongs.  My  wife  gave  me 
good  advice  at  home,  but  the  devil  came  along  and  coaxed  me 
off."  "  You  must  beware  of  the  devil ;  he  is  always  ready  to 
tempt  and  allure  us  into  sin.  If  you  resist  him,  he  will  flee  from 
you.  Do  you  feel  sorry  for  your  sins?"  "Yes;  but  not  as  I 
ought.  Yet  I  feel  happy."  "  Do  you  think  .you  could  die 
happy  ?  "  "  Yes,  I  have  no  doubt  of  it;  all  is  bright  and  clear." 
"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  so  happy ;  yet  it  is  important  sometimes 
to  examine  very  closely  the  grounds  and  evidence  of  our  hopes. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  255 

Paul  says,  '  Let  a  man  examine  himself.'  When  the  lukewarm 
Laodiccaris  thought  themselves  all  right,  and  said  they  '  were 
rich,  and  had  need  of  nothing/  the  great  Searcher  of  hearts  de- 
scribes them  as  being  deceived,  and  says  to  them, ( Thou  knowest 
not  that  thou  art  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind, 
and  naked.'  (Rev.  iii.  17.)  And  you  know  Paul,  the  pharisee, 
thought  he  was  all  right,  when  he  was  ali  wrong ;  so  it  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  search  our  hearts,  review  our  lives,  and 
examine  very  closely,  lest  we  be  deceived.  Besides,  close  self- 
examination  tends  to  growth  in  grace.  You  say  God  has  got  you, 
yet,  as  Satan  sometimes  'coaxes  you  off/  as, you  say,  allow  me  to 
warn  you ;  beware,  watch,  and  pray  earnestly,  lest  Satan  get 
you  at  last."  At  another  conversation,  he  seemed  to  possess  a 
confidence  still  more  unshaken,  and  said,  "I  am  all  right;  I  am 
happy,  happy,  the  happiest  man  on  earth  !  "  And  going  on  in 
a  strain  of  ecstatic  joy,  he  said,  "  There  is  a  foundation  to  my 
religion ;  I  mean  it."  "  Then  stick  to  it.  May  God  help  and  abun- 
dantly bless  you."  How  glorious  to  enjoy  such  assurance  under 
such  trying  circumstances  !  He  sent  for  me,  one  evening,  while 
conducting  the  prayer-meeting  in  the  hall,  and,  on  my  reaching 
him,  found  him  still  entertaining  his  bright  prospects.  After  read- 
ing a  few  verses  of  Scripture,  and  urging  him  to  be  steadfast, 
and  cling  to  the  Saviour,  and  commending  him  to  God  in  prayer, 
we  left  him.  Among  his  last  words  to  me  were,  "  Tell  my  wife  I 
died  happy  in  the  Lord."  This  was  February  10,  1865.  It  was 
very  unusual  to  hear  a  patient  express  himself  as  Charles  R.  Akin 
did.  Although  he  had  lived  somewhat  wayward,  as  his  com- 
rades said,  yet  at  the  last  he  appeared  not  only  very  penitent, 
but  happy.  He  died  a  few  days  after,  and  went,  we  trust,  to  the 
realm  of  peace.  He  belonged  to  the  Hampton  brass  band,  and 
the  whole  band  honored  him  with  their  deep,  solemn  strains  of 
music  at  his  funeral. 


256  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


PREACHING  IN  THE  WARDS — A  MELTING  PRAYER-MEETING — HOSPITAL 
CHURCH  ORGANIZED  —  CHURCH  CREED  —  A  WEEPING  SCENE  AT  THE 
GRAVE  —  THE  NAKED  HEART  —  MORTALITY  INCREASING  —  "TRY 
AGAIN"  —  A  SOLDIER'S  PRAYER-MEETING  —  CATHOLICS  TURNING 
PROTESTANTS  —  CHRISTMAS  DINNER  —  HOLIDAYS  IN  U.  S.  HOSPITAL 
—  WEEK  OF  PRAYER — THE  LORD'S  SUPPER — EEVIVAL  IN  HOSPITAL. 

T)ELIEVING  that  a  few  extracts  from  my  army  diary  will 
-D  interest  our  readers,  and  tend  to  increase  the  value  of  our 
little  book,  I  here  insert  a  few. 

PREACHING  IN  THE  WARDS. 

"August  14,  1864.  Preached  in  wards  Nos.  1  and  11  this  fore- 
noon. Very  good  attention.  First  sermon,  by  request,  from  the 
last  two  verses  of  Psalm  xix.  A  very  good  subject.  The  sermon 
in  ward  No.  1  was  from  Matt,  xxiii.  37,  Christ's  wonderful 
compassion  for  sinners ;  and  after  the  close  of  the  service,  as  I 
was  walking  up  the  aisle  of  the  ward,  one  poor  sick  soldier 
stretched  out  his  hand  to  shake  hands,  beckoning  me  to  come  to 
him ;  and  as  I  approached  him,  he  said,  '  You  don't  know  how 
thankful  I  am  to  you  for  that  sermon,  and  how  much  good  it  has 
done  me.'  He  seemed  very  thankful.  How  very  expressive  is 
a  warm,  tender  shake  of  the  hands.  Just  as  we  were  singing  the 

last  hymn, — 

'  A  charge  to  keep  I  have, 
A  God  to  glorify,' 

a  sick  soldier  was  brought  into  the  ward  dying.  They  laid  him 
down,  gave  him  a  little  brandy,  and  he  swallowed  it.  The  nurses 
began  to  rub  and  wash  him,  but  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  he 
was  dead.  As  we  were  returning  from  the  usual  funeral,  Aug. 
11,  I  saw  a  soldier  walking  close  by  me,  weeping.  I  said  to  him, 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  257 

'  Was  one  of  those  we  buried  your  brother  ? '  '  No,  sir/  he 
replied  ;  '  but  I  never  want  to  become  insensible  to  death.' 

"Aug.  16.  Buried  nineteen  departed  soldiers  to-day.  The 
Lord  bless  the  sick  and  wounded.  Prepare  them  for  what  is 
before  them.  We  had  a  very  good  prayer-meeting  to-night. 
One  of  the  worst  cases  in  the  hospital  rose,  and  said,  1 1  have 
been  very  wicked,  almost  the  chief  of  sinners,  it  seems  to  me, 
but  now  I  desire  to  seek  God/  Meeting  very  solemn.  '  O  Lord, 
revive  thy  work/  Lord,  humble,  forgive,  bless  us.  Another 
big  fight  at  Deep  Bottom.  Began  last  Sabbath.  The  rebels 
attacked  our  forces,  and  they  fought  three  days.  Our  men  took 
two  rifle-pits,  drove  the  rebels,  and  took  a  good  lot  of  prisoners. 

'•  Aug.  19.  Buried  ten  soldiers.  Read  from  last  part  1  Cor. 
xv.  It  is  most  glorious ;  it  is  so  full  of  the  resurrection  and 
victory.  Thank  God.  Visited  wards  Nos.  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  and  led 
the  regular  prayer-meeting.  Read  and  spoke  from  the  story  of 
blind  Bartimeus,  Mark  x.  46,  etc.  Very  good,  powerful  meet- 
ing ;  lasted  over  an  hour  and  a  half.  One  speaker  sat  down 
shouting,  *  Glory  be  to  God.'  Men  say,  when  they  rise  to  speak, 
'  I  can't  sit  still.'  These  meetings  were  characterized  with  much 
heartfelt  speaking.  Aug.  12.  I  wrote  in  my  diary,  '  It  was 
melting  to  see  the  boys  rise  and  speak  so  tenderly.  It  was  the 
eloquence  of  the  heart,  and  it  touched  the  heart.' 

"July  8.  Visited  in  the  wards  generally.  Went  over  to 
Hampton  Hospital;  and  on  approaching  a  suffering  soldier 
(Spiece),  with  one  leg  cut  off  above  the  knee,  he  exclaimed,  '  Oh, 
chaplain,  will  you  pray  for  me?'  After  a  few  words  of  inquiry 
about  his  spiritual  condition,  and  about  the  compassion  of  Jesus, 
I  kneeled  down  on  the  ground,  in  the  dusty  tent,  and  prayed  for 
him,  with  his  aged  father  standing  by.  He  is  very  fond  of 
singing,  and  when  we  sung  for  him,  '  Oh,  sing  to  me  of  heaven,' 
etc.,  he  went  to  sleep.  He  suffered  very  severely.  We  often 
sung  him  to  sleep.  And  a  wounded  chaplain  hearing  our 
singing,  sent  for  me  to  come  and  see  him.  I  went,  and  found  him 
badly  wounded.  Sang  and  prayed  with  him,  comforting  him 
with  the  promises  and  consolations  of  the  gospel.  Urging  him 
to  cling  closely  to  the  cross,  and  bidding  him  a  hearty  farewell, 


258  CHRISTIANITY    IX    THE    WAR. 

we  left  him  with  a  heart  glowing  with  love  to  God  and  gratitude 
to  the  chaplain. 

"Aug.  17.  Three  boat-loads  of  wounded  brought  down  to-day 
from  Deep  Bottom.  Some  four  hundred  in  all.  Two  officers 
brought  in  dead.  Great  many  very  badly  wounded,  with  arms 
and  legs  off.  Met  one,  whose  first  words  to  me  were,  '  Jesus  is 
precious  to  me  now.'  I  remained  on  the  boats,  pointing  the 
dangerous  and  dying  to  the  Saviour,  till  half-past  ten  that  night. 

"  Sept.  4.  Preached  three  times,  and  two  died  in  one  of  the 
wards  where  I  preached." 


A  MELTING  PRAYER -MEETING. 

"To-night,  Aug.  22,  1864.  It  was  one  of  the  most  melting, 
contrite  meetings  we  have  witnessed  for  a  long  time.  There  was 
more  contrition  of  soul,  conviction  of  sin,  brokeuness  of  heart, 
and  requesting  of  prayer,  than  I  ever  saw  at  one  meeting. 
Visited  a  boat-load  of  sick  and  wounded,  and  pointed  the  worst 
cases  to  Christ:  then  visited  New  Camp.  Received  and  read 
five  or  six  letters,  and  answered  one.  Wrote  a  sore-footed  man 
a  letter  to  his  wife.  Visited  the  Gangrene  Camp,  and  talked 
and  prayed  with  the  most  dangerous  cases.  Visited  colored  ward 
number  twenty-two,  of  sick  and  wounded.  Talked  Jesus  to  a  tent 
of  colored  soldiers,  and  an  old  prayerless,  swearing  man  in  ward 
number  two,  until  he  wept  tears  of  penitence.  Buried  five  sol- 
diers this  morning.  Read  and  prayed  four  or  five  times.  Many 
confessed  their  sins  to-night,  asked  to  be  prayed  for,  and  gave 
their  names  as  seekers  and  candidates  for  the  organization  of  a 
Hospital  union  church.  One  of  the  greatest  sinners,  as  he  pro- 
fessed to  be,  requested  to  be  prayed  for,  and  gave  his  name  as  a 
seeker.  One  boy,  George  Moore,  said,  *  I  would  not  be  ashamed 
nor  afraid  to  pray,  if  ten  thousand  bayonets  were  pointed  at  me.' 
Backsliders  are  returning.  O  Saviour,  draw  them  nearer  and 
still  nearer  unto  thee  ! 

"Sept.  4,  1864.  Sabbath-day.  Buried  five  more  departed 
heroes.  Preached  three  times  in  wards  numbers  seventeen,  four- 
teen, and  two.  Close  attention.  Meetings  solemn  and  very 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  259 

interesting.  They  seem  to  enjoy  it  very  much,  and  invite  me  to 
come  and  preach  again.  Preaching  is  the  only  way  to  reach  all. 
Two  died  to-day  in  one  ward  where  I  preached.  One  poor  fel- 
low, John  Me  Master,  was  shot  in  the  throat,  and  died  at  six  P.M.; 
the  other  had  his  leg  cut  off  above  the  knee. 

"Sept.  3.  Prayer  -  meeting  to-night,  full,  refreshing;  not 
quite  so  lively  and  melting  as  at  other  times.  Many  prayed ; 
sometimes  three  would  commence  at  once,  then  two  had  to  wait. 
We  had  to  close  with  many  more  willing  and  waiting  to  pray. 
They  seem  to  be  thirsting  for  God,  and  longing  to  approach  him 
in  prayer.  Thank  God ! 

"  Sept.  6.  Bead  a  few  Psalms,  Bridges  on  the  119th  Psalm, 
and  'Imitation  of  Christ,'  by  T.  a  Kempis ;  I  usually  read  a  few 
pages  of  some  devotional  book  once  or  twice  a  day ;  it  tends 
much  to  strengthen.  Visited  in  wards  numbers  nineteen,  four- 
teen, and  sixteen ;  and  preached  in  fifteen  on  the  Philippian  jailer. 
At  the  regular  prayer-meeting,  to-night,  we  resolved  to  organize 
a  Hospital  union  church.  Meeting  to-night  very  interesting.  One 
man  rose,  and  said,  '  A.  patient  in  ward  number  nineteen,  as  I 
passed  by  him,  called  me  to  his  bedside,  and  requested  me  to 
pray  for  him,  and  I  kneeled  down  and  prayed  for  him.  He 
seemed  very  thankful.'  Another  ward  nurse  said,  as  I  was 

conversing  with ,  *  I  am  going  to  turn  a  new  leaf,  and  quit 

swearing,  and  try  to  serve  the  Lord.'  Thus  we  see  how  God 
is  carrying  on  his  blessed  work.  Many  are  hungering  for  the 
gospel." 

HOSPITAL  CHURCH  ORGANIZED. 

"Sept.  9,  1864.  A  Hospital  union  church  was  organized  this 
evening,  with  thirty-one  members,  in  the  dining -hall.  This 
organization  was  gone  into  after  mature  deliberation  between 
Chaplain  Roe  and  myself,  and  a  free  consultation  with  the 
patients;  and  it  was  found  to  work  well,  notwithstanding  the 
unsettled  condition  of  the  people.  We  found  our  organization 
tended  to  give  union,  action,  strength,  and  influence  to  the  religious 
element.  Soldiers  of  the  cross,  like  soldiers  of  the  army,  do 
much  better,  and  accomplish  more,  with  than  without  an  organ- 


260  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

ization.  'Jesus  Christ  never  designed  that  his  followers  should 
live  and  spend  their  sojourn  on  earth  alone ;  hence  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church;  and  there  are  the  same  necessity  and  ad- 
vantages for  it  in  the  army  and  hospital  that  exist  at  home. 
Christians  of  all  denominations,  and  from  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, united  under  the  '  banner  of  the  cross/  can  help,  encourage, 
and  protect  one  another  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  fellowship, 
better  than  when  standing  isolated  and  alone.  Exposed  to  the 
strong  temptations  and  asperities  of  the  army,  a  Christian  needs  all 
the  props  and  restraints  a  church  can  throw  around  him." 


CHURCH  CREED. 

Made  up  of  Christians  of  all  denominations,  our  articles  of 
religion,  or  confession  of  faith,  were  short,  plain,  and  comprehen- 
sive. Here  it  is : 

Art.  1.  "God  being  my  helper,  I  will  try  to  the  best  of  my 
ability  to  be  a  Christian." 

Art.  2.  "  I  will  take  the  word  of  God  for  my  guide,  and  trust 
in  Christ  alone  for  salvation." 

Art.  3.  "  I  solemnly  pledge  myself  to  abstain  from  profane 
language,  from  alcoholic  drinks  as  a  beverage,  and  from  all  other 
vices  in  the  army  and  camp,  and  will  be  a  true  soldier  of  my 
country  and  of  the  cross." 

Art.  4.  "  I  will  earnestly  strive  to  win  souls  to  Christ,  and 
will  faithfully  try  to  watch  over  my  Christian  brother." 

Without  affecting  other  church  connections  at  home,  the 
reader  will  at  once  perceive  that  our  creed  was  broad,  orthodox, 
strong,  and  comprehensive.  Its  adoption  led  to  the  further 
development  of  the  religious  element,  to  salf-examination,  gave 
tangibility  to  our  efforts,  and  seemed  to  be  greatly  blessed  of 
God  to  the  furtherance  of  the  cause  of  Christ.  This  "little 
flock"  increased  rapidly,  and  soon  numbered  over  a  hundred. 
Christians  of  all  denominations,  without  regard  to  sects,  united 
in  this  common  brotherhood ;  and  denominationalism  was  so  far 
swallowed  up  in  the  great  cause  of  saving  souls,  that  we  but  sel- 
dom inquired  to  what  church  an  individual  belonged.  Wher- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  261 

ever  AVC  found  a  man  wearing  the  image  of  Christ,  we  were  glad 
to  receive  him  into  our  society.  Even  some  of  the  Catholics, 
giving  evidence  of  a  change,  were  received  into  our  little  band 
of  Christian  soldiers.  A  number  of  the  surgeons  and  ladies  of 
the  hospital  also  connected  with  us. 

"  Sept.  9,  1864.  It  was  the  evening  of  prayer,  and  the  meeting 
was  very  large  ;  some  earnest  prayers,  and  one  speech.  George 
W.  Moore,  188th  Pa.,  said,  '  I  went  into  ward  ten  j  saw  a  few 
boys ;  went  up  to  them,  and  talked  to  them  about  Jesus,  and 
asked  them  if  I  might  pray  for  them.  They  said  they  "  did  n't 
care."  I  asked  the  ward-master  if  I  might?  He  said,  "Yes." 
I  prayed,  and  we  had  a  good,  happy  time/  Gave  away  tracts; 
received  five  hundred  New  Testaments  and  a  large  box  of  papers 
for  the  patients  from  New  York. 

"  Sept.  1 4.  Buried  four  more  departed  soldiers.  Visited 
seven  or  eight  wards,  arid  found  a  few  willing  to  join  our  little 
Hospital  church.  Labored  a  while  at  my  thanksgiving  sermon  ; 
but,  thinking  of  the  suffering  patients  in  ward  number  one,  was 
constrained  to  go  and  see  them.  Prayed  with  John  R,.  Small, 
37th  N.  Y.,  Co.  G.,  and,  as  I  prayed,  he  followed  me,  repeating 
the  same  words.  Visited  two  wards  in  New  Camp  at  nine  P.M., 
and  a  few  cases  in  wards  eight  and  nine.  Conversed  with  one 
fellow  very  anxious  to  get  religion ;  urged  him  to  the  cross.  How 
often  patients  weep !  In  conversing  with  Bennett  J.  Cobley, 
58th  Pa.,  Co.  I,  we  found  him  careless  and  prayerless.  He  said 
his  family  was  so  before  him.  ' Do  you  swear ? '  'I  swear  oc- 
casionally, but  I  will  swear  no  more,  if  I  can  help  it.'  After  a 
long  talk  to  him  about  the  Saviour,  urging  him  to  immediate 
repentance  and  to  prayer,  he  said,  'Won't  you  make  a  little 
prayer  for  me  ?  '  wetting  his  eyes  with  the  penitential  tear.  His 
careless  brother,  standing  by,  wept  profusely.  He  urged  me  to 
call  again.  Left  him  praying,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.' 

"Sept.  16.  No  funeral  this  morning.  Five  soldiers  were 
buried  this  evening.  Canvassed  wards  as  usual,  and  preached 
in  ward  number  two,  on  '  Christ  wonderful.'  (Isa.  ix.  6.)  We 
had  a  most  powerful  prayer-meeting  to-nig'ht.  I  never  saw  such 
a  disposition  to  pray  among  the  patients.  When  the  chaplain 


262  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

ceased  speaking,  and  picked  up  the  hymn-book  to  give  out  a 
hymn  to  sing,  before  he  had  time  to  open  his  mouth,  a  soldier 
was  on  his  knees  praying.  '  We  go  it'  on  the  voluntary  system, 
and  very  often  the  desire  to  pray  is  so  general,  two  or  three 
begin  to  pray  at  the  same  time.  Eighteen  led  in  prayer  this 
evening.  Their  prayers  were  short,  plain,  direct,  earnest.  The 
chaplain  read  from  the  last  chapter  in  the  Bible.  The  interest 
seems  to  be  increasing.  '  Lord,  help  us !  O  Lord,  revive  thy 
work  ! '  B.  J.  Cobley,  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  record,  died 
to-day,  and  said  he  was  happy. 

"Sept.  17.  Eight  departed  soldiers  were  buried  this  evening. 
Preached  in  ward  five ;  very  attentive.  Some  two  hundred 
patients  brought  in  to-day ;  some  very  sick  :  two  died  on  the 
boat.  I  saw  one  neglected  colored-soldier  die,  leaning  up  against 
the  side  of  the  boat ;  no  one  noticing  him  but  myself;  he  died 
easy.  They  were  crowded  into  a  hot,  uncomfortable  place  close 
by  the  smoke-stack.  I  saw  another  poor  soldier  dying,  whom 
they  said  had  been  partially  deranged  and  very  hard  of  hearing. 
As  I  stood  by  him  he  grasped  my  hand,  and  gave  me  a  most 
expressive,  wishful  look ;  he  could  not  speak.  Death  soon  took 
him,  and  the  nurses  carried  his  body  to  the  dead-house." 


WEEPING  SCENE  AT  THE  GRAVE. 

tf  Friday,  Sept.22.  Buried  five  departed  soldiers.  And  just  as 
we  closed  the  funeral  services,  the  bereaved  widow  of  one  of  them, 
Henry  A.  Thurston,  152d  N.  Y.,  Co.  M,  arrived  at  the  grave, 
and  desired  to  see  her  dear  husband's  remains.  Of  course  we  all 
consented  at  once  to  a  request  so  reasonable,  and  proceeded  imme- 
diately to  take  up  the  coffin ;  but,  through  some  mistake,  we  took 
up  the  wrong  one,  and  opened  it  to  the  gaze  of  the  bereaved 
widow;  and  as  she  came  forward  with  a  heart  smitten  with  grief, 
weeping  profusely,  at  the  first  glimpse  of  the  corpse  she  ex- 
claimed, '  It  ain't  him!  it  ain't  him  ! '  and  perceiving  the  mistake, 
we  soon  put  it  back  and  took  up  the  right  one,  enshrouded  in  a 
plain  red  coffin,  and  gathering  around  it,  she  wept  bitterly.  How 
hard  the  sad  trial !  How  severe  her  loss !  Yet  dying  for  his 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  263 

country,  and  giving  such  bright  evidence  of  dying  in  the  Lord, 
doubtless  'for  him  to  die  was  gain.'  Corporal  Thurston's  dying 
request  was,  '  Tell  ray  wife  I  died  happy  in  Christ.'  Near  his 
last,  he  grasped  the  hands  of  his  cousin,  and  said,  '  I  am  going 
home,  and  praise  God  for  it.'  It  was  quite  common  to  see  wives 
come  to  see,  nurse,  and  comfort  their  sick  and  wounded  hus- 
bands in  the  hospital,  and  find  them  dead  and  buried.  It  was 
quite  common  to  see  anxious  mothers  come,  hundreds  of  miles, 
inquiring  for  their  dear  sons,  and  find  them  enshrouded  in  their 
coffins  in  the  dead-house,  or  lying  in  the  cold  grave.  Then  the 
next  anxious  inquiry  would  be,  '  How  did  he  die  ?  What  were 
his  last  words  and  dying  thoughts?  Did  he  seem  resigned? 
and  give  any  satisfactory  evidence  of  a  change  ? '  etc.  All  such 
questions  we  always  answered  to  the  best  of  our  ability  with 
great  pleasure.  To  meet  a  bereaved  widow,  or  mother,  or  brother, 
who  had  sustained  the  loss  of  a  bosom  friend,  and  have  nothing 
encouraging  to  tell  them  about  the  departed,  was,  of  all  duties,  the 
most  unpleasant  connected  with  a  chaplain's  labors  in  the  hos- 
pital." 

THE  NAKED  HEART. 

"  Sept.  27.  Visited  nine  wards  in  the  forenoon  and  a  few  in 
New  Camp  in  the  afternoon,  where  I  saw  distinctly  the  throb- 
bings  and  beatings  of  the  heart  of  private  John  L.  Reno,  76th 
Pa.  Vol.,  Co.  B,  who  had  been  shot  through  the  breast,  and  left 
three  holes  therein.  Part  of  the  breastbone  was  taken  out,  leav- 
ing the  heart  exposed,  so  that  we  could  distinctly  see  every  beat 
of  it.  Yet  this  brave  soldier  was  buoyant  in  spirits  and  full  of 
courage,  and  doing  well.  How  vividly  this  wonderful  sight 
brings  to  mind  God's  omniscient,  piercing  view  of  the  heart. 
(  Although  your  heart  is  uncovered  and  laid  open,  we  can  see 
nothing  but  its  exterior  and  the  quick  throbbings  occasioned  by 
the  rapid  circulation  of  the  blood;  but  "the  Lord  searcheth«all 
hearts,"  and  scans  every  motive,  thought,  word,  and  deed ;  for  all 
of  which  he  will  soon  call  us  to  give  a  strict  and  impartial  ac- 
count. And  just  here,  my  brave  fellow,  allow  me  to  ask  how 
is  "your  heart  with  God?"  for  it  matters  but  little  who  has  the 


264  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

head,  if  Satan  has  the  heart.  The  heart  governs.  How  is  it 
with  you,  John  ? '  '  Well,  chaplain,  I  don't  know,  but  I  have 
a  hope/  '  Your  heart  beats  strong  and  lively  to-day,  but  God 
only  knows  how  soon  it  may  stop.'  David  prayed  for  a  clean 
heart.  The  Saviour  says,  "  My  son,  give  me  thy  heart."  If  you 
give  your  life  for  your  country,  how  reasonable  it  is  to  give  your 
heart  to  God.'  In  my  rounds,  on  Sept.  30,  I  saw  many  badly 
wounded  cases :  one  poor  little  fellow  with  both  eyes  shot  out. 
Visited  them  on  the  boat.  They  were  complaining  for  some- 
thing to  eat. 

"October  1.  Three  boat-loads  of  patients  brought  in  to-day, 
about  five  hundred  in  all,  and  many  very  severely  wounded. 
Many  came  with  limbs  off,  some  shot  in  the  head,  some  in 
the  lungs,  and  one  unfortunate  colored  man  shot  through  the  root 
of  the  tongue,  which  swelled  so  that  he  could  scarcely  speak. 
He  wrote  his  name  and  address  for  me." 

MORTALITY  INCREASING. 

With  the  battles  raging  at  the  front,  the  sick  and  wounded 
kept  pouring  in  by  boat-loads  daily.  To  go  down  to  the  wharf 
and  gaze  upon  a  large  steamer  thickly  strewn  with  brave, 
wounded  men,  fresh  from  the  gory  field,  with  hearts  beating  with 
patriotism  and  blood  flowing  from  their  wounds,  with  here  and 
there  one  dead,  and  others  dying,  the  scene  presented  was  solemn 
and  trying.  And  when  you  begin  to  ask,  "  What  meaneth  all 
this  ?  "  you  were  deeply  impressed  with  the  value  and  importance 
of  the  salvation  of  the  country.  Our  forces  were  now,  Oct.  1, 
1864,  closely  investing  Richmond ;  and  the  conflict  waxed  warm 
and  heavy.  To-day,  some  five  hundred  wounded  were  brought 
down,  many  of  whom  were  very  severely,  and  many  mortally, 
wounded.  In  fact,  a  good  many  died  on  being  brought  down. 
Now  we  buried  from  fifteen  to  twenty  a  day.  The  dead-house 
was  sometimes  full ;  some  lying  in  their  glory,  in  their  plain  red 
coffins,  wrapped  in  their  winding-sheets,  while  others,  without 
coffins,  lay  on  the  floor. 

"  Oct.  2.  Preached  twice,  and  visited  twelve  wards.  Sermon  at 
night  on  'The  Soldier's  Guard;'  and  a  soldier  was  so  deeply 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  265 

interested,  that  he  said,  'I  could  listen  all  night  on  that  sub- 
ject/ 

"  Oct.  3.  Buried  twenty  departed  soldiers  to-day,  four  cart-loads ; 
it  took  all  the  afternoon.  Chaplain  Roe,  U.  S.  A.,  also  buried  six, 
making  in  all  twenty-six  to-day.  Preached  twice,  and  visited  some 
six  hundred  patients,  canvassing  the  hearts  of  the  sickest  ones." 

"TRY  AGAIN." 

Passing  up  the  aisle  of  one  of  the  wards,  one  Sabbath  after- 
noon, as  we  were  going  round  with  the  choir  singing,  reading, 
and  praying  with  the  patients  in  the  wards,  I  stepped  up  to  a 
soldier  of  the  10th  Reg.  of  Conn.  Volunteers,  who  had  for  sev- 
eral days  been  "  trying  to  pray," — trying  to  "  trust  in  the  Lord, 
and  trying  to  believe ; "  and  as  I  approached  his  bed,  I  said  to 
him,  "  Are  you  still  seeking  Jesus  ? "  and  immediately  he  ex- 
claimed, "I  have  found  him !  I  have  found  him  !"  "Thank  God, 
what  a  precious  Saviour !  What  a  glorious  discovery !  what  a 
blessed  privilege  to  find  such  a  merciful  Saviour!  Does  he 
seem  precious  to  you  ?  "  "  Oh,  yes ;  he  is  so  lovely ! "  Before,  it 
was  all  try  with  him.  He  had  tried  and  tried  again,  and  at  last 
success  crowned  his  efforts.  Let  the  seeker  be  encouraged ;  if 
difficulties  rise,  pray  on  and  "  go  forward  ; "  if  all  seems  dark, 
look  to  Jesus,  and  he  will  give  you  light ;  if  you  feel  discouraged, 
"  fear  not,"  God  is  with  you,  "  be  not  afraid ;  only  believe,  and  all 
is  well."  "  Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found." 

"Oct.  18.  Visited  sick,  wounded,  dying.  We  had  a  very 
good,  precious  meeting  of  prayer,  praise,  and  speaking ;  prayers 
earnest,  warm,  tender,  touching ;  speeches  earnest,  tender,  pow- 
erful, melting :  many  wept  under  one  of  them  made  by  one 
who  has  just  professed  Christ.  Said  he,  'I  feel  ashamed  of  my 
levity  in  the  ward :  I  have  been  a  great  swearer ;  but  now  I  have 
no  disposition  to  swear;  I  find  it  no  trouble  to  keep  from  it; 
to  swear  now  never  comes  into  my  mind/  A  few  evenings  be- 
fore, he  said,  *  We  go  out  into  the  woods  to  pray  often,  and  come 
back  refreshed  and  blessed ;  my  heart  seems  all  broken  to  pieces. 
I  am  thirty-eight  years  old,  and  I  think  it  a  great  sin  that  I 
have  spent  so  much  time  in  Satan's  service.'  The  soldiers  and 


266  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

officers  voted  here  on  October  11,  1864.  The  following  account 
will  show  more  fully  the  religious  interest  at  this  time  among 
the  patients." 

A  SOLDIER'S  PRAYER-MEETING. 

"These  meetings  are  always  very  interesting;  but  the  meeting 
to-night,  October  18,  was  one  of  more  than  ordinary  interest  and 
power.  It  was  opened  with  singing,  and  reading  the  ninth 
chapter  of  Luke,  accompanied  with  one  or  two  pointed  remarks 
by  the  chaplain,  and  again  singing  that  good  old  hymn : 

'  Come,  we  that  love  the  Lord, 
And  let  our  joys  be  known  ! ' 

Then  the  meeting,  as  usual,  was  thrown  open,  and  all  invited  to 
take  part.  After  eight  or  ten  warm,  tender,  earnest  prayers  for 
the  sick,  wounded,  and  dying  in  the  hospital,  for  our  civil  and 
military  officers,  soldiers  '  at  the  front/  for  our  Hospital  church, 
and  for  the  '  loved  ones  at  home/  we  had  a  few  warm,  earnest, 
heart-gushing  speeches  from  Christian  soldiers. 

"  One  stalwart  soldier  rose,  and  spoke  of  the  importance  of 
self-examination  and  fidelity.  Said  he,  '  What  we  say  here  in 
these  prayer-meetings  is  talked  over  and  sifted  by  the  hearers 
afterwards,  therefore  let  us  take  heed  what  we  say ; '  and  urged 
all  to  stand  fast,  be  firm,  decided,  rooted  and  grounded  in  love, 
and  '  stand  up  for  Jesus.' 

"Another  spoke  of  the  blessed  privilege  of  attending  the 
prayer-meeting,  of  his  own  happy  experience,  the  bliss  of  heaven, 
and  most  earnestly  and  tenderly  besought  sinners  to  come  to 
Christ.  His  thoughts  seemed  to  soar  to  heaven  and  cluster 
around  the  throne  of  God.  He  seemed  very  happy,  and  one  who 
lives  nigh  to  God.  In  prayer  he  was  very  earnest,  and  seemed 
to  get  very  near  the  throne. 

"  Another  spoke  of  the  chaplain,  and  said,  1 1  wish  we  were 
all  under  him,  that  we  might  do  as  he  bids  us/  and  said,  'If  we 
hear  him,  how  much  more  should  we  hear  our  great  High-Priest, 
Jesus  Christ,  who  pleads  and  intercedes  for  us.'  Going  on  in  a 
very  warm,  earnest  manner,  spicing  his  speech  with  an  occasional 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  267 

shout  of '  Glory  be  to  God ! '  he  closed,  earnestly  beseeching  sin- 
ners to  come  to  Jesus.  . 

"  Another  said,  '  It  is  but  a  short  time  since  I  set  out  to  serve 
God,  and  I  find  it  good  to  serve  him,  and  would  most  heartily 
recommend  it  to  all/ 

"  Another  young  convert  said,  '  A  few  months  ago  I  came  to 
this  hospital  very  sick  of  the  fever:  the  doctors  gave  me  up;  but 
I  got  well,  and  here  I  found  the  Saviour  several  weeks  ago,  and 
immediately  enlisted  in  his  service.  Although  my  praying  com- 
rades have  ceased  to  go  with  me  to  the  bushes  to  pray,  I  still  go 
by  myself.  I  find  it  very  refreshing/  He  said,  f  I  went  to  a  tent 
of  colored  soldiers,  and  asked  one  if  he  would  like  to  have  a  little 
book  ?  He  said  "  Yes."  I  gave  him  one.  I  asked  him  if  he  was  a 
Christian  ?  "  No,"  he  replied ;  I  told  him  to  pray,  and  look  to 
Jesus.  I  went  next  day,  and  found  him  rejoicing  in  believing.' 
George  spoke  with  much  warmth  and  earnestness,  and  closed  by 
urging  sinners  to  come  to  Christ. 

"  But  the  speech  that  seemed  almost  to  melt  the  whole  con- 
gregation into  tears,  was  from  one  who  had  just  been  converted. 
A  few  evenings  ago  he  rose  and  said, '  I  came  up  here  to-night  to 
ask  an  interest  in  your  prayers ;  something  has  touched  my  heart, 
and  I  see  and  feel  I  am  a  great  sinner,  and  wish  to  become  a 
Christian ;  I  have  been  reading  my  Bible  and  trying  to  pray. 
To-night  I  renew  my  request.  Brethren,  I  hope  you  will  all 
pray  for  me.  I  have  been  a  great  swearer ;  but  now  I  find  no 
difficulty  in  keeping  from  swearing,  but  feel  condemned  for  my 
levity  in  joking  with  "the  boys"  in  the  ward.  To  swear  now 
never  comes  into  my  mind.  My  heart  is  all  broken  into  pieces. 
Oh,  brethren,  pray  for  me ! '  He  sat  down  trembling  with  deep 
emotions,  all  bathed  in  tears.  His  speech  was  short,  simple, 
mi-nest,  powerful ;  coining  from  the  heart,  it  reached  the  hearts 
of  many,  and  brought  tears  to  their  eyes.  It  was  good  to  be 
there. 

"Nov.  6,  1864.  After  morning  devotions,  buried  the  dead; 
nine  in  all.  A  rebel  soldier  sent  for  me  to  come  and  pray  with 
him.  I  went.  He  seemed  very  penitent,  and  anxious  about  his 
salvation ;  has  a  deep  sense  of  his  sins ;  wept  freely ;  prays,  but 


268  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

seems  to  think  he  is  not  a  Christian,  yet  he  acts  a  good  deal  like 
one.  Preached  in  a  ward  of  colored  patients  this  evening;  and 
visited  New  Camp,  and  found  a  number  of  colored  soldiers  in 
need  of  clothing. 

"  Nov.  8.  After  burying  nine  soldiers,  canvassed  the  wards  as 
usual.  Met  one  colored  patient,  who  said,  '  When  I  try  to  pray, 
my  heart  wanders  away  from  me :  I  never  saw  the  beat  of  it ;  I 
never  saw  the  beat  of  it ! '  On  my  asking  a  colored  soldier  why 
so  many  chose  to  serve  Satan  rather  than  Christ  ?  he  said,  '  It 
is  easier  to  serve  Satan/  '  What !  is  Satan's  yoke  easier  than 
Christ's  ? '  '  Yes ;  it  is  easier  for  the  sinner.'  '  Very  true,  it  is 
always  easier  to  swim  down  stream  than  up;  yet,  when  you 
throw  off  Satan's  yoke  and  put  on  Christ's,  it  is  much  easier  to 
wear  Christ's.' " 

CATHOLICS  TURNING  PROTESTANTS. 

"To-day,  Nov.  10,  1864,  two  fine-looking  German  Catholics 
came  to  my  room  to  have  a  talk  about  Jesus  and  the  Protestant 
religion,  and  to  consult  about  joining  our  Hospital  union  church. 
They  came  from  my  wing  of  the  hospital.  After  an  interesting 
interview  with  them  in  their  ward,  they  united  with  the  church, 
and  gave  good  evidence  of  a  change.  They  were  always  found 
at  the  prayer-meeting.  Several  Catholics  united  with  our  '  little 
flock.'  The  army  is  a  good  place  to  reach  this  class  of  people. 
I  have  often  found  them  free  to  talk  about  the  Saviour  and  the 
way  of  salvation. 

"Nov.  12.  Preached  to-day  to  the  patients  and  officers  of  the 
fourth  division  (colored)  of  the  hospital;  they  were  all  attention  and 
deeply  interested ;  some  few  were  very  old  men,  contrabands ; 
two  very  low  with  disease.  Gave  out  a  few  books,  tracts,  and 
papers ;  they  were  very  glad  to  receive  them ;  some  can't  read ; 
some  quite  well  educated.  This  division,  being  about  a  mile 
from  the  head-quarters  of  the  hospital,  and  being  across  Hampton 
Creek,  is  not  visited  much  by  the  chaplain  or  delegates.  Spirit- 
ually, it  is  a  good  deal  neglected. 

"  Nov.  16.  Read  a  few  Psalms  and  a  little  book  called  'Ready.' 
Very  good.  Visited  a  wounded  woman  (brought  from  near  Rich- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  269 

moml,  with  three  children,  in  a  tentby  themselves),  in  company  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Crane,  and  two  ladies  from  Norfolk.  She  was  wounded, 
near  Richmond,  with  a  shell;  she  is  getting  well.  Preached  in  a 
tent  of  ward  number  twenty-four  on  Regeneration,  and  broke  up 
two  squads  of  card-playing.  Visited  wards  members  12,  13,  14, 
15,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  24,  25,  7,  6,  5,  4,  3,  2,  1,  and 
canvassed  the  hearts  of  the  sickest  ones. 

"  Xov.  19.  Buried  five.  Visited  wards  numbers  7,  6,  5,  4,  3, 
2,  1,  13,  12,  and  Gangrene  Camp,  where  I  found  one  suffering 
colored  soldier,  in  the  last  stages  of  life,  covered  all  over  with 
perspiration.  Pointing  him  to  the  all-compassionate  Saviour, 
and  commending  him  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  with  prayer  and 
exhortation,  we  bid  him  a  last  farewell.  I  usually  visited  from 
five  to  eight  hundred  patients  daily,  always  conversing  with  the 
most  dangerous  cases.  '  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ? '  'O 
God,  help  me ! ' 

"  Nov.  22.  Buried  ten  soldiers,  all  in  old  graves  out  of  which 
dead  bodies  had  been  exhumed  and  taken  home.  Warned  a 
dying  soldier  to  flee  to  Christ;  read  from  (Mark  x.  46,)  story 
of  the  blind  beggar ;  urged  him  to  fly  to  Christ  at  once ;  prayed 
with  much  liberty.  The  Lord  was  with  us  and  helped  us.  How 
solemn !  After  visiting  and  canvassing  a  number  of  wards, 
wrote  letters  till  eleven  o'clock  P.M.  It  keeps  me  very  busy  to 
bury  the  dead,  and  to  watch,  and  learn,  and  keep  a  record  of  the 
dying.  Mr.  Cole,  though  careless  heretofore,  as  I  urged  him  to 
seek  an  interest  in  Christ  to-day,  he  wept  freely;  his  last  sands  are 
doubtless  running.  I  saw  Sergeant  Bullock  weeping  because  he 
could  not  realize  that  change  of  heart  he  desired." 

CHRISTMAS   DINNER. 

"  Dec.  26.  Visited  patients  as  usual.  Canvassed  a  while  in 
New  Camp.  Read  and  prayed  with  an  old  man  who  said  he  had 
l)een  guilty  of  all  crimes  but  murder  and  theft.  He  seemed  very 
anxious  about  his  salvation  now.  Yesterday  I  preached  a  Christ- 
mas sermon  to  a  very  large,  attentive  audience  in  ward  C,  on  the 
text,  '  Glory  to  God/  Luke  ii.  11.  One  fellow  said,  going  home, 


270  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

'  We  had  a  good  Christmas  treat  to-night.'  The  Christmas  din- 
ner was  a  sumptuous  affair.  Through  the  patriotic  liberality 
of  the  people  at  the  North,  we  had  some  four  hundred  fine,  fat 
turkeys,  which,  together  with  other  things  in  proportion,  made 
up  a  splendid  dinner  for  all  the  patients  and  officers  of  the  hos- 
pital, in  all  some  three  thousand  and  five  hundred.  The  soldiers 
enjoyed  it  very  much.  To  get  a  good  meal  of  turkeys,  vegetables, 
etc.,  was  to  them  a  great  treat.  It  was  huge  feeding.  To  brave 
men,  who  had  undergone  the  asperities  and  hardships  of  army 
life  so  long,  to  enjoy  such  a  rich  feast  was  truly  gratifying. 
Such  scenes  of  festivity  tend  to  break  up  the  dull  monotony  of 
hospital  life,  inspire  new  life,  refresh  and  encourage  the  sick  and 
wounded.  Many  of  the  wards  are  richly  festooned  and  most 
splendidly  decorated  with  evergreens,  pictures,  banners,  and  flags. 
Fitted  up  with  so  much  taste,  to  enter  one  would  remind  you 
of  going  into  one  of  the  fine  halls  in  New  York  City.  And 
early  in  the  spring,  the  yards  of  several  of  the  wards  were  fenced 
off,  and  sodded  over  and  fitted  up  in  fine  style ;  some  of  them 
as  neat  as  the  yard  of  the  dwelling-house  of  any  country  gentle- 
man. In  the  beautiful  yard  of  ward  number  nine  you  could  see 
in  large,  beautiful  letters  of  living  green,  '  RICHMOND  FELL 
APRIL  4,  1865.'  Others  were  adorned  with  shrubs  and  fragrant 
flowers  and  sweet  roses,  all  tending  to  make  the  hospital  more 
cheering  and  desirable  to  the  patients." 


"THEY  COULD  ONLY  SHOUT  'GLORY,'  AND  DIED," 

Said  a  brave,  honest  soldier  while  he  lay  on  his  bed  in  the 
hospital,  raging  with  a  scorching  fever,  as  he  described  our 
poor  half-starved,  dying,  released  prisoners,  as  they  were  carried 
from  the  rebel  boat  and  again  placed  under  the  beautiful  stripes 
of  the  dear  old  flag  of  the  Union.  "  And  did  they  shout  glory  ?  " 
"  Yes."  And  no  wonder,  after  experiencing  such  a  glorious  de- 
liverance. If  the  pardoned  convict,  snatched  from  the  disgrace 
of  the  gallows,  cries,  "  glory."  If  the  sinner,  rescued  from  hell, 
would  shout  "  glory,"  well  might  the  prisoner  released  from  the 
untold  horrors  of  Andersonville.  Having  escaped  the  cruel 


CHRISTIANITY    IX    THE    WAR.  *     271 

revenge,  the  inexpressible  sufferings  and  excruciating  punish- 
ments of  that  awful  place  of  torment,  where  starving  heroes  tried 
to  keep  soul  and  body  together  by  eating  dead  dogs  and  food 
that  had  already  passed  from  the  stomach  of  other  men,  as  those 
exchanged  prisoners  themselves  stated  they  had  done,  it  is  no 
wonder  they  shouted  "  glory/'  even  when  in  the  agonies  of  death, 
when  permitted  to  die  under  the  glorious  "stars  and  stripes." 
How  sad  and  sickening  the  thought,  to  surviving  friends,  to 
know  that  a  dear  relative  had  lived  through  all  the  inhuman 
cruelties  of  that  horrible  place,  and  then  die  at  last  without  see- 
ing home.  Oh,  the  cruelties,  horrors,  and  tortures  of  the  rebellion ! 
Language  fails  to  describe  it.  What  an  accumulation  of  crime, 
guilt,  suffering,  misery,  cruelty,  revenge,  torture,  starvation, 
death,  and  murder  is  embodied  in  that  awful  word  Anderson- 
ville.  The  heart  shudders  and  recoils  at  the  very  thought  of  it. 
Its  very  utterance  will  always  terrify  and  shock  humanity. 

HOLIDAYS   IN  U.  S.  HOSPITAL. 

For  a  few  weeks  previous,  the  "  Hampton  Glee  Club "  had 
been  preparing  for  a  "  Christmas  concert,"  which  came  off  on 
Christmas  eve.  It  was  a  complete  success.  The  spacious  hall, 
finely  decorated  with  flags  and  richly  festooned  with  wreaths  and 
circlets  of  pine  and  evergreens,  and  ornamented  with  luxurious 
berries,  "  red,  white,  and  blue,"  and  all  surmounted  with  the 
cheering  inscription,  "  We  come  with  songs  to  greet  you,"  crowded 
to  overflowing  with  some  nine  or  ten  hundred  patients  (soldiers), 
citizens,  and  officers,  presented  a  sight  grand  and  imposing.  The 
clock  strikes  eight,  and  after  a  cheering  "  overture,"  the  grand 
entertainment  opens  with  the  stirring  strains  of  the  glorious 
"  Star-Spangled  Banner,"  thrilling  the  whole  audience.  The 
Glee  Club  and  others  sung  many  patriotic,  sentimental,  and  in- 
teresting songs  most  sweetly,  which  were  very  cheering  and  gra- 
tifying to  the  patients  for  whose  benefit  the  concert  was  gotten 
up.  That  everybody  enjoyed  it  richly  was  evident  from  the 
vociferous  laughing,  stamping,  and  clapping  of  hands.  The  hall 
being  too  small,  hundreds  could  not  get  in  ;  yet,  although  it  was 
quite  cold,  many  on  crutches  stood  outside  and  listened  to  the 


272  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

enchanting  music,  interspersed  with  animating  interludes  by  the 
orchestra. 

The  Christmas  dinner  was  decidedly  rich  and  good.  With  a 
few  fat  pigs,  a  large  lot  of  chickens,  and  some  four  hundred  or 
five  hundred  good  turkeys,  every  patient,  attache",  and  officer  in 
the  hospital  "fared  sumptuously."  The  patients  particularly 
were  highly  gratified.  The  rich  pies  and  cakes,  together  with 
the  abundant  supply  of  porter  and  ale,  seemed  almost  to  make 
many  of  them  forget  they  were  in  a  hospital.  Besides  our 
prayer-meetings,  we  had  two  Christmas  sermons.  With  some 
three  thousand  patients  in  all,  in  the  hospital,  some  one  thousand 
go  out  to  the  dining-hall  for  their  meals ;  the  rest  eat  in  their 
wards,  many  of  which  are  finely  decorated  and  festooned,  pre- 
senting an  appearance  for  beauty  almost  equal  to  a  city  drawing- 
room. 

The  rich  dinner*  and  the  concert,  with  some  variations,  were 
repeated  on  New  Year's  day. 

The  mortality  in  this  hospital  is  rapidly  decreasing.  Out  of 
some  three  thousand  patients,  only  seventeen  died  last  week,  which 
is  the  least  for  one  week  during  the  last  six  months. 

WEEK  OF  PRAYER. 

This  commenced  last  night  with  an  encouraging  prospect.  It 
opened  with  reading  the  seventh  chapter  of  Matthew,  accom- 
panied with  appropriate  remarks  by  Chaplain  E.  P.  Roe.  There 
was  a  good  feeling.  It  was  good  to  be  there.  To-night  the 
meeting  was  opened  with  praise  and  reading  part  of  the  second 
chapter  of  Acts,  with  remarks  upon  the  great  revival  recorded 
there,  its  extent,  depth,  power,  and  influence,  and  the  agency  and 
means  by  which  it  was  brought  about.  Deep  interest  to-night. 
The  prayers  and  speeches  were  warm,  pointed,  earnest.  Many 
in  tears,  and  seemed  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  patients 
came  with  wounded  heads  tied  up,  and  some  on  crutches. 

THE  LORD'S  SUPPER 

Was  administered  to-day,  January  8,  1865,  in  the  chapel  at 
Chesapeake  Hospital.  Chaplain  Marshall  preached  the  action 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  27^ 

sermon  on  the  text,  "  What  mean  ye  by  this  service  ?  "  With 
eight  ministers  present,  some  seventy-five  persons,  soldiers,  ma- 
trons, and  officers  communed.  The  service  was  deeply  solemn 
and  interesting.  While  our  comrades  were  pouring  out  their 
blood,  battling  for  victory,  upon  the  gory  field  at  the  front,  here, 
beside  the  flowing  tide  of  Hampton  Roads,  we  were  permitted 
to  celebrate  the  victory  of  Calvary.  With  brave  men  dying 
around  us,  and  God's  eye  upon  us,  bathed  in  tears,  we  com- 
memorated the  dying  love  of  Jesus.  Oh,  what  a  great  privilege ! 

"  How  sweet  and  awful  was  the  place, 
With  Christ  within  the  doors." 

While  thousands  around  us  were  sealing  their  attachment  to  their 
country  with  their  blood,  here,  amidst  the  groans  of  the  sick, 
wounded,  and  dying,  by  renewed  vows,  we  sealed  ours  to  the 
Saviour.  This  was  the  only  privilege  of  this  kind  we  enjoyed 
during  our  time  of  service  in  the  army.  The  suffused  eye  and 
the  deep  solemnity  pervading  all  present  indicated  God's  gra- 
cious presence.  It  was  refreshing  to  the  soul,  and  we  believe 
many  went  away  strengthened  and  better  prepared  for  battling 
in  the  great  cause  of  liberty  and  truth. 

REVIVAL. 

The  religious  interest  from  this  time  onward,  for  a  few  weeks, 
seemed  to  increase  rapidly,  and  on  the  evening  of  Jan.  9  we 
had  a  most  precious  meeting.  "  Many  wept ;  it  was  good  to  be 
there.  The  chaplain  limited  the  meeting  at  the  beginning  to 
an  hour,  but  God  prolonged  it  to  an  hour  and  a  half.  It  was  a 
real  time  of  refreshing.  Several  asked  to  be  prayed  for.  We 
had  one  most  powerful  prayer.  The  people  are  getting  waked 
up. 

"  Jan.  10.  Visited  wards  and  canvassed  as  usual.  Very  heavy 
rains.  I  went  through  them  to  visit  the  sick.  Constrained  by 
a  sense  of  duty,  I  can't  omit  it.  Good  prayer-meeting  to-night. 
One  man  rose,  and  said, '  Last  Sabbath  night  I  began  to  pray  for 
the  first  time  in  my  life.'  Interest  increasing.  The  next  even- 
ing I  preached  from  Matt,  xxvii.  46.  Christ  on  the  cross.  Tho 
18 


274  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAE. 

congregation  to-night  was  unusually  large  and  very  attentive. 
All  was  as  solemn  as  the  grave.  After  an  interesting  season  of 
prayer,  an  invitation  was  given  for.  persons  to  unite  with  the 
church,  and  a  great  many  stayed  in,  deeply  anxious,  lingering 
around  the  gates  of  Zion.  The  prayer,  '  O  Lord,  revive  thy 
work/  is  going  up  from  many  hearts.  l  Come,  Holy  Spirit,  come 
with  all  thy  quickening  powers/ 

"Jan.  13.  Buried  twelve  dead.  Prayed  with  Gibson  at  his 
request.  He  grasped  my  hand  firmly  and  warmly,  and  strongly 
drew  me  close  up  to  him,  unwilling  to  let  me  go,  exclaiming, 
*  Oh,  don't  go  away,  chaplain,  don't  go  away !  Can't  you  stay 
with  me?  Can't  you  stay  and  talk  more  about  the  blessed 
Saviour?'  He  seems  very  anxious,  prayerful,  and  tender.  I 
have  been  out  late,  often  till  after  ten  o'clock,  every  night  for 
several  months,  laboring  with  the  needy  patients.  The  work  is 
laborious,  yet  the  cause  is  so  noble  and  glorious,  I  like  it. 
Rev.  Mr.  Bingham  preached  to-night  from  Acts  xvi.  30 :  the 
case  of  the  Philippian  jailer  —  a  very  good,  appropriate  sermon. 
1  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved?'  The  greatest  and  most  import- 
ant question  ever  propounded  to  man. 

"Jan.  18.  Buried  three  cart-loads  of  dead  soldiers.  Visited 
and  canvassed  several  wards,  and  preached  in  ward  four.  And 
after  conversing  a  while  with  one  who  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  he 
said,  '  Your  sermon  last  night  did  my  soul  good.'  A  ward-master 
said  to-night,  '  I  would  give  a  hundred  dollars  to  quit  swearing. 
Yes,  I  would  give  my  arm.'  'And  well  you  might.  The 
Saviour  says,  "  If  thy  right  hand  offend  thee,  cut  it  off,  and  cast 
it  from  thee ;  for  it  is  profitable  for  thee,  that  one  of  thy  mem- 
bers should  perish,  and  not  that  thy  whole  body  should  be  cast 
into  hell."  Yea,  you  had  better  give  your  life  than  utter  a  single 
oath.  But  you  can,  if  you  will,  quit  it  on  a  far  cheaper  plan. 
If  you  feel  unable  of  yourself  to  quit  it,  go  to  God,  ask  for 
strength,  and  he  will  enable  you  to  quit  it.  Ask,  and  you  shall 
receive.' 

"Jan.  19.  Visited  hospital  transport  from  Fort  Fisher, 
with  two  hundred  and  seven  wounded  patients, —  most  of  them 
wounded  but  slightly ;  only  about  twenty  or  twenty -five  stretcher 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  275 

cases.  They  all  seemed  very  jubilant  over  the  glorious  victory 
achieved ;  even  those  who  were  mortally  wounded,  you  could 
see  their  eyes  flashing  with  patriotic  fire,  and  their  brave  hearts 
throbbing  with  heroic  devotion  to  their  country.  Although  they 
had  just  come  out  of  a  hard  hand-to-hand  fight,  they  were  all  still 
full  of  fight.  The  bullets  flew  so  thick  that  it  seemed  they  would 
strike  one  another  in  the  air.  Thank  God  for  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher.  The  worst  cases  were  put  in  ward  C ;  and,  as  I  went  in 
a  few  days  after  to  preach  to  them,  I  found  them  singing,  '  My 
country,'  all  full  of  courage.  Several  of  them  died  shortly  after. 

"Jan.  21.  It  rained  very  heavily  all  day;  sometimes  it  liter- 
ally poured  down.  Yet  I  visited  and  canvassed  ten  or  twelve 
wards  as  usual,  but  I  got  most  awful  wet  and  muddy  —  wetter 
than  I  have  been  for  ten  years.  Saw  and  conversed  with  two 
men  nigh  unto  death,  and  pointed  them  to  Him  whose  blood 
cleanseth  from  all  sin." 

But  one  of  our  most  precious  and  powerful  meetings  was  on 
the  evening  of  January  14th.  It  was  a  meeting  of  the  church 
members  and  anxious  inquirers.  In  my  diary  I  described  it  in 
these  words :  "  We  had  a  Melting  Meeting  to-night  in  ward  C." 
A  more  full  account  of  it  will  be  found  in  the  following  letter. 


REVIVAL  IN  A  HOSPITAL. 

FORTRESS  MONROE,  February  4,  1865. 

MESSRS.  EDITORS:  The"  Week  of  Prayer"  here  has  turned 
out  to  be  a  month  of  prayer.  Beginning  with  the  first  of  January, 
our  prayer-meetings,  excepting  a  few  nights'  interruption  by  the 
arrival  of  new  patients,  have  been  continued  to  this  date.  The 
attendance,  mostly  soldiers,  has  been  at  times  very  large,  reaching 
about  six  hundred  one  evening.  Preaching  occasionally,  the 
exercises  have  been  prayer,  exhortation,  and  praise.  We  labor 
under  great  inconveniences  for  want  of'  a  comfortable  house  to 
meet  in.  We  meet  now  in  the  dining-hall,  without  any  fire ;  and 
although  all  is  cold  and  freezing  without,  the  suffused  eye,  earnest 
prayer,  and  warm,  earnest  exhortation  evinced  that  there  is  fire 
within.  Here  the  soldier,  upon  his  crutches  and  with  his 
wounded  head  tied  up,  drags  his  maimed  body  to  sing  and  pray. 
Our  "Hospital  Union  Church,"  organized  September  9,  1864, 


276  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

with  thirty  members,  now  numbers  about  two  hundred  and  ten. 
Over  one  hundred  united  during  the  month  of  January,  and 
"  still  they  come  !  "  Conversions  are  frequent. 

Laboring  most  of  the  time  in  Hampton  Hospital,  or  Division 
No.  1,  chaplained  by  the  Rev.  E.  P.  Roe,  we  endeavor  now  to 
get  the  "spiritual  diagnosis"  of  every  patient  coming  into  the 
hospital.  This  is  a  very  good  plan.  To  canvass  the  heart  stirs 
the  soul,  and  often  leads  men  to  repentance.  The  patients  are 
generally  very  free  to  talk  about  religion.  Many  seem  to  be  in- 
quiring, "  What  to  do  to  be  saved  ?  " 

SOLDIER'S  PRAYER-MEETING. 

It  was  on  a  Saturday  night,  and  a  meeting  of  the  church  mem- 
bers and  anxious  inquirers.  The  meeting  was  opened  by  reading 
from  John  xv.,  followed  with  prayer,  and  a  few  warm  and  tender 
remarks  by  the  chaplain,  and  we  had  a  "  warming  time  of  re- 
freshing." After  singing  that  good  old  stirring  hymn, 

"Stand  up,  my  soul,  shake  off  thy  fears, 
And  gird  the  gospel  armor  on,'' 

the  meeting  was  thrown  open,  and  all  invited  to  take  part  in 
speaking  or  praying,  as  they  felt.  The  first  speech  was  by  an 
old  soldier  of  the  cross,  lately  from  the  North.  Requested  by  the 
chaplain,  with  his  white  locks  overhanging  his  time-worn  cheeks, 
he  laid  off  his  over -coat,  and  slowly  rose  and  spoke  tenderly  of 
the  prayers  and  sympathies  of  the  North  in  behalf  of  the  soldiers, 
whom  he  earnestly  besought  to  be  faithful ;  and,  trying  to  im- 
press them  with  their  great  responsibility,  he  says  to  them,  "  You 
are  the  bulwarks  of  the  nation.  Upon  your  fidelity  hangs  the  pro- 
tection and  salvation  of  the  country."  His  closing  remark  was, 
"  Remember,  Thou,  God,  seest  me  !  " 

He  was  followed  by  the  prayer  of  a  young  convert,  who  said 
"  To-night  he  had  won  one  poor  sinner  to  Christ."  We  all  joined 
in  praise. 

Then  another  aged  Christian  rose,  and  spoke  of  God's  goodness 
to  him,  and  confessed  he  had  "  wandered  away  a  little  from  the 
Saviour ;  but  to-night  I  feel  my  spiritual  strength  renewed." 
Urging  with  tenderness  all  to  be  faithful,  he  asked  to  be  prayed 
for,  and  sat  down. 

Another  rises,  and  says :  "  I  feel  happy  to-night,  and  thank 
God  for  what  he  has  done  for  my  soul.  Though  a  professor  for 
seven  years,  I  felt  myself  lost  Avhen  I  came  here  last  spring." 
Expressing  much  anxiety  about  and  gratitude  for  praying  friends 
at  home,  he  sat  down,  shouting,  "Glory  be  to  God  !  " 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  277 

Another  says,  "I  was  converted  three  weeks  ago,  in  ward 
seven,  lying  on  my  sick-bed ; "  and  thanking  God  for  what  he 
had  done  for  him,  and  requesting  to  be  prayed  for,  sat  down. 

Another,  who,  a  little  while  ago  "was  a  great  swearer,"  spoke 
with  much  feeling  about  his  man-fearing  spirit,  and  his  determi- 
nation hereafter,  through  grace,  to  overcome  it,  and  be  more  faith- 
ful. "  When  we  consider  the  greatness  of  God,"  said  he,  "  what 
is  the  fear  of  a  man  ?  Nothing  more  than  a  floating  thistle  in 
the  air."  Requesting  all  to  pray  for  him,  he  sat  down  bathed  in 
tears. 

Another  expressed  his  surprise  at  so  few  being  Christians, 
when  we  consider  the  vastness  of  Christ's  love,  and  what  great 
things  he  has  done  for  us.  Closing  with  the  importance  of  every 
Christian  showing  his  colors,  and  letting  his  light  shine,  he  illus- 
trated the  fact  by  the  little  drummer -boy,  who  checked  and 
silenced  profanity,  gambling,  and  carousing  on  a  steamboat, 
simply  by  kneeling  in  silent  prayer  in  their  presence  before  he 
went  to  bed.  "  Fellow-soldiers,"  said  he,  "  let  us  raise  our  colors 
a  little  higher." 

Then  a  boy  rose,  and  said,  "  I  have  resolved  to  seek  the  Lord, 
and  be  a  Christian.  I  ask  an  interest  in  your  prayers." 

Another  visitor,  from  the  North,  said,  "  I  was  converted 
February  2,  1835,  at  nine  o'clock  at  night.  I  recollect  the 
circumstance  very  well.  The  Spirit  of  God  has  been  running 
and  burning  all  through  me  here  to-night."  He  closed  by* urg- 
ing the  little  boy  who  preceded  him,  the  chaplain,  soldiers,  and 
all,  to  be  faithful,  and  God  will  reward  us. 

Another  said,  "  I  would  not  be  ashamed  to  confess  Christ,  and 
stand  up  for  his  cause,  before  the  world.  I  hope  always  so  to  live 
that  I  may  win  souls  to  God."  He  said  the  fear  of  man  is 
nothing. 

Many  others  spoke,  all  saying,  "  I  feel  within  me  that  God 
has  blessed  my  soul,  and  that  it  is  good  to  serve  him."  Nearly 
every  one  sat  down  with  the  request,  "  Pray  for  me."  It  was 
truly  a  time  of  refreshing.  The  gushing  sigh,  the  penitential 
tear,  stirring  exhortation,  and  the  earnest  prayer,  all  evinced  that 
"  The  Lord  of  hosts  was  with  us." 

The  deep  religious  interest  pervading  many  of  the  patients 
was  manifested  by  their  coming  to  converse  with  the  chuphiins 
about  their  salvation.  On  Feb.  6,  1865,  after  I  had  closed  my 
sermon  in  ward  twenty-seven,  on  "  halting,"  a  young  soldier 
stepped  up  to  me,  weeping  profusely,  and  said, "  I  ask  an  interest 


278  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

in  your  prayers.  I  feel  I  am  a  great  sinner ;  and  I  have  been 
praying  and  feeling  so  about  three  days.  I  have  a  praying  mother. 
I  have  the  heart  disease,  and  am  liable  to  be  called  away  any  time." 
Urging  him  to  give  his  heart  to  God,  I  walked  round  with  him, 
pointed  him  to  Christ,  and  by  the  mercies  of  God  besought  him 
to  come  to  Jesus  at  once,  without  any  preparation.  Invoking 
the  blessing  of  God  to  rest  upon  him,  we  bid  him  a  hearty 
good-by. 

"  Feb.  10.  Visited  a  very  sick  man  in  ward  thirteen.  Found 
him  expressing  a  bright  hope.  He  said,  with  deep  earnestness, 
{ I  am  ready/  in  an  emphatic  tone.  He  sent  for  me  yesterday. 
I  went,  read,  sung,  and  prayed  with  him.  Read  and  wrote  a  lot 
of  letters ;  visited  and  canvassed  ten  wards ;  had  a  long  talk  with 
a  swearing  soldier  in  ward  twenty-eight,  endeavoring  to  ex- 
pose the  folly  and  sin  of  profanity,  and  urged  him  to  quit  it. 
While  leading  the  regular  prayer-meeting  to-night,  I  was  called 
away  to  visit  a  dying  man,  and,  upon  entering  the  ward,  found 
it  was  Akin,  referred  to  above.  He  was  still  able  to  converse, 
and,  in  a  firm  and  distinct  manner,  he  said,  '  I  am  happy,  happy  ! 
My  religion  is  built  upon  a  sure  foundation.  /  mean  it.  God 
has  got  me.  Tell  my  wife  I  died  happy.'  He  died  that  night. 

"Feb.  15,1865.  Yesterday  we  received  four  hundred  and 
sixteen  patients  from  Point  of  Rocks,  Va.  Held  the  regular 
semiweekly  prayer-meeting  to-night  in  ward  eleven  because 
the  dining-hall  is  so  cold,  there  being  no  fire  in  it.  Mr.  Plumb, 
private  of  4th  Mass.  Cavalry,  made  us  a  very  good,  religious 
talk.  There  is  an  advantage  in  meeting  in  the  wards  for  prayer. 
Here  we  get  the  lame,  the  maimed,  and  the  halt.  To-day  we 
buried  the  remains  of  Thomas  Smith,  of  the  32d  Co.  of  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps.  The  funeral  was  unusually  large,  as  nearly  all 
of  that  corps  present  attended.  The  Hampton  Hospital  brass 
band  graced  the  funeral  with  deep-toned  notes  of  mourning. 
To-day  I  received  a  visit  from  Gen.  Curtis  at  my  room.  The 
general  is  just  so  far  recovered  from  his  severe  wound,  received 
at  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  as  to  begin  to  go  out  a  little 
around  the  hospital.  He  is  lively,  entertaining,  and  pleasant, 
and  has  proved  himself  a  brave  soldier  in  the  fierce,  bloody 


CHKISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  279 

conflict  at  Fort  Fisher.  Though  he  lost  an  eye,  he  nobly  per- 
formed his  part  in  achieving  that  very  important  victory  which 
cut  the  rebels'  communication  with  Richmond,  and  did  so  much 
toward  hastening  the  downfall  of  the  rebellion." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

MISCELLANEOUS   FACTS. 

CELEBRATION  OF  WASHINGTON'S  BIRTHDAY  —  EELIGIOUS  INTERKS* 
IN  NEW  CAMP  —  SOLDIERS'  ENTERTAINMENT — THE  FALL  OF  EICH- 
MOND  —  UNBOUNDED  KEJOICING — LEE'S  SURRENDER — DEATH  OF 
PRESIDENT  LINCOLN — LARGEST  INTERMENT  —  DEDICATION  OF  NEW 
HOSPITAL  CHAPEL  —  ARRIVAL  OF  FORT  FISHER  WOUNDED. 

CELEBRATION  OF  WASHINGTON'S  BIRTHDAY. 

THIS  memorable  day  was  celebrated  with  much  enthusiasm, 
by  the  patients  and  officers  of  the  hospital,  in  the  "  Govern- 
ment school  house,"  hard  by  the  hospital,  erected  by  the  Govern- 
ment, under  the  direction  of  Gen.  Butler,  for  the  education  of  the 
colored  children.  On  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  February,  the 
people  began  to  get  ready,  and  by  half-past  one  o'clock  a  largo 
procession  was  formed,  near  ward  four,  and  marched  to  the  school- 
house  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Wolverton,  assistant  surgeon  of 
the  U.  S.  A.,  headed  by  the  band,  surgeons,  and  chaplains  of  the 
hospital.  All  comfortably  seated  in  the  spacious  hall,  the  exer- 
cises were  opened  by  the  stirring  strains  of  "  Red,  White,  and 
Blue,"  by  the  hospital  band,  followed  with  an  appropriate  prayer 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Dinsmore  of  the  Christian  Commission.  The 
meeting  was  addressed  by  Chaplains  Billingsley,  Marshall,  and 
Raymond,  and  Mr.  Plumb,  of  the  4th  Mass.  Cavalry,  with  fre- 
quent marks  of  applause.  With  an  audience  of  some  twelve 
hundred,  composed  of  soldiers  with  eyes  sparkling  with  patriotism, 
and  a  few  ladies,  with  a  small  sprinkle  of  colored  folks,  with  the 


280  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE     tVAK. 

hospital  band  conspicuously  seated  in  the  rear  of  the  stand, —  all 
surmounted  by  the  glorious  "stars"  of  Washington  and  "  stripes" 
of  the  Union !  —  the  scene  presented  was  truly  grand  and  im- 
posing. And  when  we  remember  that  we  were  standing  upon 
the  soil  of  old  Virginia,  which,  for  two  hundred  and  forty-five 
long  years,  had  been  watered  with  the  sweat  and  blood  of  slaves, 
millions  of  whom  are  now  alive  and  free,  and  thousands  of  them 
standing  around  us  to-day,  the  grandeur  and  glory  of  the  scene 
were  much  increased.  And  what  added  still  more  to  the  in- 
terest and  glory  of  that  auspicious  day  and  the  exercises  of  the 
occasion,  was,  that  we  were  standing  almost  within  sight  of  the 
shade  of  the  tomb  of  him  whose  birthday  we  were  celebrating, 
and  hard  by  a  whipping-post,  tied  to  which  many  a  slave  had 
received  the  bloody  lashes  from  an  unmerciful  master.  Cheered 
by  the  enchanting  music  of  the  hospital  band,  although  we  were 
surrounded  with  the  dead  and  dying,  the  meeting  was  a  perfect 
success ;  and  the  patients  returned  to  their  respective  quarters 
cheered  and  encouraged,  and  better  prepared  to  do  and  to  suffer 
in  the  great  cause  of  humanity  and  truth. 

RELIGIOUS  INTEREST  IN  NEW  CAMP. 

Being  now  full,  February  18,  1865,  New  Camp  contained 
some  eleven  hundred  colored  patients,  all  comfortably  situated  in 
good  tents  ;  and,  being  without  a  suitable  place  to  meet  in,  they 
had  but  little  preaching;  hence  they  engaged  more  in  social  wor- 
ship. It  was  on  a  cold  frosty  evening  in  February,  while  I  was 
visiting  the  suffering  patients  in  the  lonely  Gangrene  Camp,  that 
my  ear  was  greeted  with  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise  in  the 
direction  of  New  Camp.  As  I  approached  the  unlit  tents, 
the  sound  grew  louder  and  louder  until,  reaching  the  interior  of 
the  camp,  I  was  agreeably  surprised  to  find  prayer-meetings, 
nearly  all  led  by  colored  men,  going  on  in  eight  or  ten  different 
tents  at  the  same  time.  What  a  flame  of  thanksgiving,  prayer, 
and  praise  ascended  from  the  hearts  of  those  earnest  suppliants  ! 
To  see  so  many,  now  disabled  to  fight  with  the  sword,  wielding 
the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  the  more  powerful  weapon,  prayer, 
for  the  deliverance  of  the  country  and  for  the  salvation  of  her 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  281 

defenders,  was  truly  encouraging  !  Ground  down  so  long  with 
the  iron  heel  of  slavery,  and  now,  with  their  shackles  knocked 
off,  and  elevated  to  the  rank  and  honor  of  United  States  soldiers, 
fighting  for  liberty  and  union,  they  were  full  of  gratitude  and  joy ; 
and  their  thanksgiving  and  rejoicing  were  much  increased,  because 
their  emancipation  and  promotion  were  given,  as  they  believed  (and 
doubtless  it  was  so),  in  answer  to  their  prayers !  Approaching  one 
of  their  tents,  I  saw  a  man  standing  outside,  attentively  listening 
to  the  gushing  prayers  and  praises  within.  "  Why  don't  you  go 
in  ?  "  I  said  to  him.  Looking  very  solemn  and  anxious,  he  replied, 
"  I  am  lookin'  for  a  good  meetin'  to  go  to."  He  waited  patiently 
and  listened  very  attentively,  as  one  sable  soldier  of  the  cross,  with 
no  light  in  the  tent,  gave  out  the  hymn  "line  upon  line; "  and 
they  all  joined  in  singing  it  very  impressively.  He  threatened 
to  go  in,  but  I  left  him  standing  there.  In  several  of  the  tents 
they  had  no  light;  but  with  their  souls  lit  up  by  God's  light- 
giving  Spirit,  richly  endued  with  the  spirit  of  prayer,  and  deeply 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  subject,  they  sung  and  prayed 
with  great  power,  even  as  though  they  felt,  "  I  will  not  let  thee 
go,  except  thou  bless  me."  Simple-minded  in  their  nature  and 
habits,  with  a  limited  knowledge  of  the  doctrines  of  the  cross, 
they  possess  fewer  ideas  about  religion  than  white  folks ;  but  what 
they  have,  seem  to  take  a  deep  hold  upon  their  hearts  and  to  make 
a  deep  impression  upon  their  minds.  They  seem  to  know  nothing 
about  doubting  God  and  his  word.  Hence,  they  pray  with  a  child- 
like simplicity  and  a  noble  familiarity  with  God,  peculiar  to  them- 
selves. And  going  to  God  thus,  "  without  wrath,  nothing  doubt- 
ing, they  seem  to  get  very  near  the  throne,  and  couching  their 
petitions  in  the  strongest  terms,  enforced  by  arguments  powerful, 
touching,  and  convincing,  they  prayed  with  wonderful  effect."  A 
servant  was  once  asked  by  his  master,  "  Tom,  how  is  it  that  you 
are  always  so  happy,  and  I  am  so  miserable  ?  "  "  Oh,  inassa,  me 
fall  right  flat  down  on  do  promises,  and  prays  right  up.  Me  is 
happy  in  dc  Lord.  You,  massa,  don't  pray,  nor  trust  in  de  Lord ; 
dat's  what  makes  you  so  miserable,  massa."  But  to  proceed  with 
the  prayer-meetings.  Passing  by  and  looking  in,  we  often  found 
them  conducted  by  colored  men,  who  were  so  familiar  with  the 


282  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

hymns  they  sung,  that  they  lined  them  out  without  a  candle.  They 
all  seemed  to  enjoy  it  very  much.  The  impressiveness  of  their 
singing,  and  the  fervor  of  their  prayers,  were  enough  to  melt  the 
hardest  heart.  These  prayer-meetings  were  kept  up  every  night 
for  a  long  time,  with  much  interest. 

This  division  of  the  hospital  was  chaplained  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Charles  Raymond,  U.  S.  A.,  who,  having  charge  of  the  public 
schools  of  that  region,  failed  to  give  that  attention  to  the  patients 
they  deserved;  hence  I  visited  them  when  I  could,  and  with  them 
I  had  many  very  interesting  interviews  on  experimental  religion. 
We  often  found  the  colored  soldier  giving  an  evidence  of  a  depth 
of  piety  that  would  shame  irfany  white  Christians.  Original  and 
peculiar  in  their  modes  of  thought  and  expression,  they  would 
"  get  off"  some  most  striking  and  interesting  things.  Speaking 
right  out  from  the  heart,  they  frequently  became  very  eloquent 
and  powerful,  reaching  the  heart  and  stirring  the  soul  of  every 
listener.  It  was  a  privilege  to  hear  them.  Dr.  Raymond 
preached  to  them  occasionally.  He  had  clerks  and  religious 
men  from  the  hospital  appointed  to  visit  the  sickest  patients, 
learn  their  spiritual  condition,  get  their  last  words  and  dying 
messages  of  those  that  died,  and  send  them  home  to  their  friends. 
The  delegates  of  the  Christian  and  Sanitary  Commissions  did  a 
good  work  in  this  camp,  both  in  religious  instruction  and  sup- 
plying the  temporal  wants  of  the  patients.  They  furnished  the 
patients  with  a  good  supply  of  papers  and  religious  reading,  and 
spelling-books  and  readers  for  those  wishing  to  learn  to  read.  A 
large  ward  of  this  camp  was  occupied  with  confederate  prisoners, 
who  received  the  same  fare  as  our  own  men.  When  this  camp 
was  first  opened,  it  was  occupied  with  white  patients  from  our 
own  army.  Here  many  of  them  suffered  and  died ;  some  giving 
directions  concerning  their  bones.  After  a  while  they  were  all 
taken  to  division  number  one,  usually  called  Hampton  Hospital ; 
and  then  New  Camp  was  occupied  exclusively  by  colored  pa- 
tients until  July  5,  1865,  when  it  was  abandoned  entirely,  and 
the  patients  moved  to  division  number  one.  For  several  months 
this  camp  was  well  supplied  with  faithful  matrons,  through  whose 
tender  kindness  doubtless  the  life  of  many  a  soldier  was  saved. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB. 


SOLDIERS'  ENTERTAINMENT. 

What  was  it?  A  meeting  of  rejoicing  over  the  late  victory 
achieved  by  our  armies  upon  the  field  of  battle.  It  was  the  fourth 
of  March,  the  day  Abraham  Lincoln  was  reinaugurated  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  Upon  a  short  notice,  the  spacious 
old  dining-hall  was  full  before  it  was  dark.  At  the  hour  ap- 
pointed, Chaplain  Marshall  and  myself  went  over;  and  the  hall 
was  so  densely  crowded  that  we  found  it  difficult  to  make  our 
way  through  to  the  stand :  such  was  the  desire  among  the  pa- 
tients to  witness  and  participate  in  the  entertainment.  Upon 
uttering  the  words,  "  Please,  come  to  order,"  all  was  calm  and 
quiet ;  and  after  the  audience  was  entertained  with  cheering  music 
by  the  hospital  band,  the  exercises  were  opened  with  an  appro- 
priate prayer  by  Chaplain  Marshall.  After  a  short  introductory 
speech  by  the  writer,  Mr.  Marshall  entertained  the  jubilant 
crowd  with  an  interesting  address ;  recounting  acts  of  heroism, 
inspiring  the  brave  soldiers  with  fresh  courage  to  go  on  doing 
and  suffering  in  the  great  conflict  before  us.  At  the  close  of  his 
remarks,  we  were  again  cheered  by  the  enchanting  music  and 
the  facetious  remarks  of  two  private  soldiers,  Corporal  Cook, 
of  the  Veteran  Reserves,  and  Sergeant  Plumb,  of  the  4th  Mass. 
Cavalry.  Got  up  in  a  hurry,  the  entertainment  was  a  perfect 
success.  The  patients  all  seemed  highly  pleased,  and  all  repaired 
at  the  close  to  their  respective  quarters,  strengthened  and  en- 
couraged. 

THE   FALL   OF  RICHMOND  —  UNBOUNDED  REJOICING. 

"  The  year  of  jubilee  is  come !  Let  the  earth  rejoice ! " 
Of  all  scenes  of  rejoicing  since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  that 
over  the  fall  of  Richmond  excels  all.  When  all  was  moving  on 
as  usual  in  the  hospital,  all  of  a  sudden,  about  half-past  eleven 
o'clock  A.M.,  we  received  the  glorious  news  that  the  rebels  had 
fired  and  evacuated  the  rebel  capital,  and  that  Gen.  Weitzel, 
commanding  the  25th  army  corps  (colored),  had  entered  and 
taken  possession  about  eight  o'clock  A.M.,  on  April  3,  1865. 
Tli"  word  was  sent  up  from  the  fort  by  Dr.  McClellan,  and  soon 


284  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

spread  like  wild-fire  all  over  the  hospital,  and  such  exhibitions 
of  heart-felt  rejoicing  were  seldom  if  ever  witnessed.  Convales- 
cents at  work  in  the  field  threw  up  their  hats  and  cheered  most 
heartily.  Everybody  was  all  alive  with  enthusiastic  rejoicing ; 
vociferous  cheer  after  cheer  rolled  from  the  gushing  hearts  of 
large  crowds  of  patients  and  officers  assembled  at  head-quarters, 
while  the  hospital  band  made  everything  ring  with  their  en- 
chanting music.  But  the  crowning  act  of  the  occasion  was  an 
old  colored  man  raising  his  hands  and  shouting  aloud,  "  Glory  to 
God  in  the  highest ! "  to  which  many  responded  with  a  hearty 
"  Amen ! "  With  this  stirring  clap  of  applause,  we  dispersed  for 
dinner,  and  met  again,  at  the  call  of  the  surgeon-in-charge,  at 
night  in  the  dining-hall,  where  we  had  a  most  enthusiastic  season 
of  rejoicing.  The  meeting  was  addressed  by  Dr.  McClellan,  Dr. 
Crane,  Medical  Director  at  Fortress  Monroe,  and  by  Chaplains 
Raymond,  Roe,  Marshall,  and  Billiugsley,  and  others.  Graced 
with  the  thrilling  music  of  the  hospital  band,  with  an  audience 
of  some  ten  or  twelve  hundred,  all  passed  off  very  orderly. 
Feeling  that  with  the  downfall  of  Richmond  the  rebellion  was 
virtually  quelled,  the  slave  freed,  the  effusion  of  blood  stayed, 
and  the  country  saved,  we  knew  not  how  enough  to  thank  God 
and  the  army  and  the  navy  for  the  great  and  glorious  victory 
achieved. 

LEE'S   SURRENDER. 

But  our  highest  note  of  rejoicing  was  reserved  for  Lee's  sur- 
render. We  received  the  news  about  midnight,  April  10,  1865. 
Immediately  the  band  strikes  up  music,  and  hundreds  of  us, 
being  waked  up  by  the  loud  cheering,  rose  to  rejoice,  and  in  £ 
few  minutes  the  whole  hospital  was  all  on  tiptoe  with  the  most 
enthusiastic  jubilation.  Loud,  prolonged  cheering  and  shouts  of 
"  glory  to  God  "  burst  forth  from  every  heart.  "  Thank  God,  the 
battle  is  fought  and  the  victory  won  !  "  was  the  pervading  senti- 
ment of  all.  Language  failed  to  give  expression  to  the  deep 
emotions  of  gratitude  and  rejoicing.  The  effect  was  almost  over- 
whelming. Everybody  seemed  almost  lost  in  the  grandeur,  glory, 
and  importance  of  the  victory  achieved.  Even  the  aged  gray- 


CHRISTIANITY    IX    THE    WAR.  285 

headed  matrons  rose  after  midnight  to  give  thanks  to  God,  and 
mingle  their  hearts  and  voices  over  the  downfall  of  the  rebellion. 
And  being  so  highly  elated  with  the  importance  of  the  occasion, 
the  old  band  came  up  from  the  fort  to  unite  in  the  jubilations  of 
the  auspicious  day;  and  while  the  jubilant  crowd  was  standing 
upon  the  porch  of  the  Chesapeake,  listening  to  the  stirring  music, 
Dr.  Rush,  Surgeon  U.  S.  Vol.,  was  called  upon  for  a  speech ;  but 
he  said,  "  It  is  not  a  time  for  speaking :  the  effect  is  too  deep ; 
it  is  a  time  to  rejoice  ! "  Whereupon  the  writer  was  called  upon 
for  a  speech ;  but,  being  so  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  the  event,  that  he  was  only  able  to  say,  after  alluding  to  the 
grandeur,  glory,  and  importance  of  the  victory  achieved,  that 
"  the  war  is  over,  the  slave  is  freed,  the  effusion  of  blood  is  stayed, 
the  rebellion  quelled,  the  Union  preserved,  the  devil  whipped, 
the  country  saved,  and  God  glorified ! "  It  was  received  with 
hearty  cheering.  Some  of  the  men  and  officers  indulged  a  little 
in  "  old  rye,"  which  seemed  to  increase  the  jollification.  I  was 
very  hardly  pressed  to  drink,  but  I  resisted  every  temptation. 
The  jubilation  was  kept  up  until  daylight,  and  all  through 
the  next  day,  and  until  we  received  the  sad  news  of  Lincoln's 
assassination,  when  all  most  suddenly  were  thrown  into  the 
deepest  mourning,  lamentation,  and  woe. 


DEATH  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN. 

"April  14.  Spent  the  day  in  visiting  the  sick  and  wounded, 
and  pointing  them  to  Jesus,  and  entreating  them  to  repent,  and 
in  writing  letters.  Buried  the  dead ;  four  loads.  Preached  in  ward 
one  to  a  very  attentive  congregation.  Visited  a  boat-load  of 
three  hundred  patients,  brought  down  this  evening  from  near 
Richmond ;  two  boat-loads  brought  down  yesterday  with  several 
very  severely  wounded.  The  stream  of  death  is  rising  in  the 
hospital,  and  it  requires  close  watching  to  keep  run  of  his 
ravages.  Five  brave  heroes  have  died  from  wounds  in  wan  I 
twenty-two  since  the  capture  of  Richmond. 

"  April  16.  Sabbath.  Chaplain  Roe  and  myself  both  spoke 
to-night  on  the  death  of  President  Lincoln ;  Mr.  Roe  from  Psalm 


286  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

xlvi.  1.  I  urged  the  people  not  to  despair ;  God  will  protect  us. 
The  congregation  was  the  largest  I  ever  saw  in  the  hall,  —  some 
eight  hundred;  meeting  very  solemn  and  impressive;  many 
wept" 

LARGEST  INTERMENT. 

"Ten  patients  died  yesterday.  We  buried  twenty-nine  to-day 
(April  20) ;  six  cart-loads.  There  was  an  accumulation  of  corpses 
in  the  dead-house,  for  want  of  coffins  to  bury  them  in.  Funeral 
services  at  the  graves  unusually  solemn  and  impressive.  Read 
and  spoke  on  the  resurrection  and  general  judgment.  '  Great  God 
have  mercy  on  the  dying  soldiers !  Save  them  for  Jesus'  sake ! ' 
The  above  is  the  greatest  number  we  buried  in  any  one  day  dur- 
ing the  war  at  Hampton  Hospital. 

"  May  2.  Buried  twelve.  Preached  in  ward  fifteen ;  canvassed 
as  usual ;  went  through  rebel  and  gangrene  camps,  pointing  the 
anxious  to  the  cross,  and  warning  the  careless  ( to  flee  the  wrath 
to  come.'  Visited  two  confederate  soldiers,  who  wept — one  pro- 
fusely— as  I  talked  to  them  about  Jesus  ;  while  I  talked  to  one 
about  other  things,  he  seemed  to  feel  not ;  but  when  I  touched 
upon  the  cross,  his  heart  seemed  to  swell  with  emotions.  He  had 
been  a  colporteur  for  the  American  Tract  Society." 

DEDICATION  OF  NEW  HOSPITAL  CHAPEL. 

The  new  Hospital  chapel,  for  the  want  of  which  we  labored 
for  three  years  under  great  disadvantages,  was  dedicated  to-day,  • 
July  16,  1865.  Sixty  feet  long  and  thirty  wide,  with  two  large 
wings, — one  for  a  library  and  reading-room,  and  the  other  for  the 
chaplains'  quarters, — with  stained  glass,  and  a  small  spire,  it  pre- 
sents quite  a  neat  appearance.  Rev.  Mr.  Tisdale,  Agent  of  the 
U.S.  Christian  Commission  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Ya.,  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon  from  the  prophecy  of  Jeremiah ;  Chaplain  Roe 
presided  ;  Chaplain  Billingsley  made  the  opening,  and  Chaplain 
Marshall  the  closing  prayer  upon  the  interesting  and  solemn 
occasion.  The  congregation  was  large  and  attentive.  Mr.  Roe, 
who  has  proved  himself  to  be  a  very  successful  beggar  in  raising 
some  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  in  the  North,  principally  in 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  287 

New  York  and  Brooklyn,  to  erect  this  much  needed  house,  soon 
after  it  was  dedicated  opened  in  it  a  day-school  for  the  colored 
patients  to  learn  to  read,  write,  and  cipher.  The  first  day  they 
had  over  one  hundred  scholars,  all  eager  to  learn.  The  hospital 
library  contains  some  fifteen  hundred  volumes,  many  of  which 
are  large,  fine,  valuable,  and  suitable  for  the  patients. 

ARRIVAL  OF  FORT  FISHER  WOUNDED. 

It  was  January  19, 1865,  when  a  large  steamer,  hospital  trans- 
port, arrived  at  the  wharf,  laden  with  two  hundred  and  seven 
wounded  braves,  direct  from  the  bloody  field  of  Fort  Fisher, 
North  Carolina.  Flushed  with  victory,  though  they  came  with 
arms  and  legs  off,  with  limbs  shattered,  bones  broken,  and  with 
bodies  scarred  and  lacerated  with  rebel  bayonets,  and  carrying 
rebel  bullets  within  them,  yet,  with  hearts  throbbing  with  patri- 
otism and  courage,  and  crowned  with  glory  and  honor,  they  were 
the  most  jubilant  lot  of  patients  we  ever  saw  enter  a  hospital. 
Having  just  come  out  of  a  hard  hand-to-hand  fight,  they  were 
forgetful  of  their  severe,  mortal  wounds,  and  conscious  of  the 
g^reat  victory  achieved,  they  delighted  to  talk  about  it.  In  the 
language  of  the  immortal  Perry,  they  could  say,  "  We  have  met 
the  enemy,  and  they  are  ours."  Enter  the  boat :  there  they  lie, 
with  their  life-blood  ebbing  away,  yet,  patient  and  resigned,  not 
a  murmur  falls  from  their  lips.  Having  fought  a  good  fight,  and 
won  crowns  of  glory,  though  their  sufferings  were  great, 'they 
bore  it  all  with  heroic  courage,  without  a  word  of  complaint. 
But,  alas!  for  these  brave  heroes,  though  jubilant,  and  flushed 
with  victory  to-day,  some  are  doomed  to  die  to-morrow ;  having 
just  triumphantly  fought  one  battle,  they  are  soon  to  fight  an- 
other; having  just  vanquished  one  enemy,  some  are  soon  to 
vanquish  another;  Ivaving  just  won  one  glorious  victory,  they 
are  soon  to  win  another  more  glorious,  even  victory  over  death, 
the  last  enemy,  and  go  down  to  the  grave  crowned  with  all  the 
glories  of  martyrdom ;  for  it  was  but  a  few  hours  ere  we  saw 
some  grappling  with  death,  and,  "having  fought  a  good  fight," 
gave  shouts  of  victory.  Thus,  dying  for  their  country,  sealing 


288  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

the  bonds  of  Union  with  their  blood,  they  have  left  the  scene  of 
conflict ;  gone  forever,  gone  from  the  field  of  battle,  by  way  of 
Fortress  Monroe,  home  to  glory,  to  swell  the  victor's  song  of 
redeeming  love  around  the  throne  of  God  forever. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

BOMBARDMENT   OF   FORT   FISHER. 

THE  WOUNDED  ARRIVE  AT  THE  HOSPITAL  —  THEY  ARE  VERY  JUBI- 
LANT—ADMIRAL PORTER  COMMANDS  THE  FLEET  — "THE  WORLD 
NEVER  SAW  SUCH  FIGHTING"  —  THE  SCENE  AWFULLY  GRAND  AND 
SUBLIME  —  GREAT  SLAUGHTER  OF  SAILORS  —  AWFUL  HAND-TO- 
HAND  FIGHT  FOR  HOURS  —  THE  SURRENDER — BUOYANT  WOUNDED 
FROM  KlCHMOND  —  DYING  THAT  THE  NATION  MIGHT  LlVE  —  HOS- 
PITAL  VARIETY  MONOTONOUS  —  DESIRE  TO  GO  HOME. 

BUT  we  cannot  drop  these  brave  heroes  without  giving  a 
brief  sketch  of  the  terrible  fight  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Fisher,  of  which,  said  Admiral  Porter,  "  The  world  never  saw 
such  fighting  as  our  men  did."  It  was  on  Friday  morning, 
January  13,  1865,  about  four  o'clock,  while  the  pale  moon  shone 
brightly  upon  the  placid  ocean,  that  the  signal,  "  get  up,"  flashed 
from  the  flag-ship  by  the  firing  of  a  gun,  and  reverberating 
throughout  the  vast  fleet,  bid  the  slumbering  thousands  rise  and 
prepare  for  the  solemn,  important  work  of  the  day.  In  a  mo- 
ment the  reveille  is  beating,  soldiers  and  sailors  are  rising,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  the  entire  squadron  is  all  in  action.  Breakfast 
being  over  at  five  o'clock,  the  sagacious  admiral  cries  out,  "  Get 
under  way"  and  the  whole  fleet  weigh  anchor,  spread  sail,  get 
up  steam,  and  by  the  first  dawn  of  day  the  whole  armada  was 
in  motion.  At  a  quarter  before  seven,  the  admiral  gives  another 
signal,  and  cries  out,  "  Form  line  of  battle  !  "  Whereupon  the 
Brooklyn,  bearing  twenty-six  guns,  together  with  twelve  other 
boats,  carrying  in  all  one  hundred  and  sixteen  guns,  moved  up 
about  three  and  a  half  miles  above  Fort  Fisher,  near  the  Half- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  280 

moon  Battery,  to  clear  out  by  shelling  a  place  for  the  landing  of 
the  troops,  and  ordered  to  prepare  for  action,  and  soon  began  to 
shell  the  adjacent  beach.  Meanwhile  five  iron-clads  were  thrown 
into  position,  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  and  the  monitors  half  a 
mile  from  the  fort,  and  opened  upon  it  with  a  most  galling  fire, 
with  a  terrible  effect,  with  an  occasional  shot  from  the  fort. 
About  nine  o'clock  some  four  thousand  men,  assisted  by  the  boats, 
were  landed,  and  planted  their  flag  upon  one  of  the  highest  sand- 
hills, amidst  the  hearty  cheering  of  gazing  thousands  of  the  fleet, 
panting  for  victory.  Not  an  enemy  could  be  seen. 

The  bombardment  now  becomes  general,  and  by  four  o'clock 
p.  M.,  the  admiral  orders  the  vessels  in  the  line  of  battle  number 
one  to  take  their  position,  and  join  the  bombardment;  where- 
upon fourteen  vessels,  led  by  the  Brooklyn,  carrying  in  all  one 
hundred  and  thirty-six  guns,  sallied  forth  fully  primed  for  the 
mighty  conflict.  Following  in  rapid  succession  was  an  order  to 
the  second  line  of  battle  to  take  their  position  and  join  the  bom- 
bardment ;  and  immediately  it  moved  forward  with  seven  of  the 
largest  wooden  gunboats  (in  the  service),  led  by  the  Minnesota, 
with  fifty -two,  and  in  all  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  guns. 
There  they  are,  with  three  hundred  and  twelve  guns,  together 
with  the  iron-clads  and  monitors,  all  fully  primed,  manned  with 
buoyant  hearts,  thirsting  for  the  deadly  work.  At  twenty 
minutes  before  five,  the  whole  fleet  joined  in  the  general  bom- 
bardment. Now  began  one  of  the  fiercest,  most  powerful  and 
destructive  cannonades  the  world  ever  saw.  With  one  vast 
sheet  of  flame,  for  an  hour  and  a  half  they  poured  in  their 
enormous  devouring  shells  at  the  rate  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
per  minute,  dealing  death  and  destruction  among  the  ruthless 
entrenched  rebels  at  every  blow,  and  silenced  the  rebel  guns  at 
once.  One  fifteen-inch  shell  pierced  a  bomb-proof,  and  killed 
sixteen,  and  severely  wounded  twenty-five  rebels. 

How  thrilling  the  scene !  The  vivid  flash,  the  belching  blaze, 
the  tremendous  roar,  and  the  mighty  torrent  of  balls  and  shells, 
together  with  the  thick  volumes  of  dust  and  smoke  rising  from 
the  doomed  fort,  presented  a  scene  of  terrific  grandeur  and  awful 
sublimity,  beyond  the  power  of  language  to  describe !  It  seemed 

19 


290  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAK. 

as  if  all  the  artillery  of  heaven  was  let  loose  upon  the  doomed 
crumbling  fort !  At  ten  minutes  past  six  P.  M.  the  general  bom- 
bardment ceases,  and  the  fort,  with  some  three  or  four  thousand 
shells  and  balls  lodged  in  and  about  it,  is  reduced  to  a  perfect 
pulp,  and  well  prepared  for  an  attack  by  land.  Hitherto  the 
fight,  on  our  part,  has  been  preparatory  to  the  final  assault.  As 
yet,  not  a  life  has  been  lost,  nor  a  drop  of  blood  shed.  But 
Sabbath,  January  15,  dawns  with  a  clear  sky  and  a  placid  ocean, 
and  now  comes  the  tug  of  war  in  earnest.  During  the  night,  the 
army  forces,  numbering  some  four  thousand,  commanded  by 
Maj.-Gen.  A.  H.  Terry,  had  gathered  round  the  fort,  anxiously 
waiting  the  signal  to  attack.  The  most  peffect  harmony  exists 
between  Admiral  Porter,  commanding  the  fleet,  and  Gen.  Terry ; 
and  though  they  were  a  mile  apart  during  the  assault,  they  con- 
versed by  signs  as  the  emergencies  required.  With  some  twenty- 
two  hundred  bloodthirsty  rebels  strongly  entrenched  in  the 
besieged  fort,  fully  determined  to  conquer  or  die,  encompassed 
by  five  thousand  heroic  braves  thirsting  for  victory  in  the  cause 
of  God  and  the  Union,  how  critical  the  moment !  Big  with  the 
fate  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  the  destiny  of  so  many  valuable  lives, 
and  the  salvation  of  the  country,  how  very  important  the  crisis ! 
Gaze  upon  the  tragic  scene,  swelling  with  importance,  anxiety, 
and  solemnity  as  the  decisive  hour  approaches.  With  hundreds, 
it  is  the  last  Sabbath  upon  earth ;  hundreds  of  hearts,  now  warm 
and  gushing  with  patriotism  and  thirsting  for  glory  and  honor, 
are  soon  to  lie  cold  in  death.  Oh,  how  thrilling  and  critical  the 
hour  !  "  Great  God,  on  what  a  slender  thread  hangs  the  destiny 
of  immortal  things!"  It  is  now  eleven  o'clock  A.M.,  and  the 
vast  fleet  again  open,  and  continue  firing  upon  the  unfortunate  fort 
most  furiously  for  hours.  Time  flies  :  the  crisis  approaches ;  and 
now,  with  all  ready,  at  half-past  three  P.M.  the  signal  is  given,  and 
the  awful  charge  and  fearful  assault  are  made,  and  the  mighty  strug- 
gle begins.  At  this  juncture,  with  a  report  louder  than  seven 
thunders,  all  the  steam-whistles  blow,  and  the  gallant  soldiers  and 
sailors  rush  forward,  each  one  nobly  vying  to  reach  the  top  of 
the  parapet  first.  Two  thousand  brave  sailors,  led  on  by  Capt. 
IL  11.  Breese,  attack  on  the  sea-front  of  the  fort,  and  rushing 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  291 

forward,  apparently  determined  to  take  it  by  storm ;  but  on 
reaching  the  parapet,  and  there  planting  their  colors,  the  rebels 
mistook  them  for  the  main  body  of  the  charge,  and  there  concen- 
trating their  force,  repeatedly  poured  in  upon  them  the  most 
galling,  destructive  fires  of  grape  and  canister.  The  gallant 
heroes  sallied  three  times,  right  in  the  jaws  of  death,  but 
were  swept  away  like  chaff  before  the  wind ;  and  finding  their 
efforts  were  unavailing  (with  all  the  efforts  of  Capt.  Breese, 
Lieuts.  Gushing  and  Preston),  they  were  compelled  to  give  way 
amidst  three  loud  rebel  cheers,  leaving  some  two  hundred  of 
their  number  killed  and  wounded  strewn  round  the  fort.  Mean- 
while three  thousand  heroic  soldiers  of  the  old  10th  Corps,  led 
on  by  the  brav»  Gen.  N.  M.  Curtis,  142d  N.  Y.  Vol.,  under  the 
immediate  supervision  of  Gen.  Terry,  made  the  attack  on  the 
rear,  and  most  difficult  part  of  the  fort,  with  complete  success. 
Although  the  sailors  failed  in  their  attack,  they  did  a  good  work 
in  diverting  the  enemy  from  the  attack  on  the  rear  by  the  troops, 
who,  upon  mounting  the  parapets  and  scaling  the  crumbling 
fort,  and  seeing  the  rebels  driving  the  sailors,  rushed  in  upon 
them,  peppering  their  backs,  and  gave  them  one  of  the  most  de- 
structive fires  ever  discharged  ;  and  then  ensued  one  of  the  most 
desperate,  savage,  and  destructive  hand-to-hand  fights  the  world 
ever  saw.  It  lasted  seven  hours.  Both  sides  fought  with  perfect 
desperation.  Fearless  and  determined  to  conquer  or  die,  Gen. 
Terry  entered  the  fort  himself.  Gen.  Curtis  coming  in  direct 
contact  with  the  bloodthirsty  rebels,  slew  them  with  his  sword, 
and  had  one  of  his  eyes  put  out  in  the  fight.  Col.  Moore,  203d 
Pa.  Vol.,  bearing  the  flag  of  his  regiment,  fearlessly  rushed  for- 
ward, and  received  several  balls  which  laid  him  dead  at  once.  On 
and  on  waged  the  terrible  conflict.  From  traverse  after  traverse 
the  ruthless  rebels  were  driven  back  by  our  invincible  heroes, 
fighting  like  lions.  Col.  Pennypacker,  following  Gen.  Curtis 
closely  in  the  assault,  was  severely  wounded.  Thus  fiercely  waged 
the  awful  conflict,  until  the  blood-stained  fort  was  strewn  with  the 
dead  and  dying.  They  fought  on  till  ten  o'clock  at  night,  when 
the  rebels  were  driven  out  and  fled  to  Federal  point,  where  Gen. 
Whiting,  commanding  the  rebel  forces,  surrendered  himself  and 


292  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

command  unconditionally  to  Gen.  Terry,  the  hero  of  Fort  Fisher, 
about  twelve  o'clock.  The  rebel  dead  were  estimated  at  five  hun- 
dred; our  killed  and  wounded  about  nine  hundred.  Col.  Bell, 
4th  N.  H.,  died  the  following  morning.  Lieuts.  Preston  and 
Porter,  of  the  navy,  were  both  killed. 

Soon  after  the  fall  of  Richmond,  we  received  a  few  boat-loads 
of  patients  from  that  region,  many  of  whom  were  severely 
wounded,  and  coming  from  the  field  of  carnage,  laden  with  the 
spoils  and  glory  of  victory,  they  too  were  highly  jubilant  and 
full  of  rejoicing  over  the  fall  of  the  rebel  capital  and  flight  of 
Jeff  Davis.  Uplifted  with  the  great  victory  achieved,  and  having 
so  nobly  done  their  part  in  achieving  it,  although  a  great  many 
of  them  had  left  a  limb  or  two  and  a  great  portion  of  their 
blood  upon  the  gory  field,  yet  conscious  of  the  greatness  and 
grandeur  of  the  achievement,  with  hearts  throbbing  with  heroic 
devotion  to  their  country,  although  with  many  their  life-blood 
was  fast  ebbing  away,  and  with  all  the  stern  realities  of  eter- 
nity rising  before  them,  still  they  were  buoyant  and  cheerful. 
Having  stood  so  many  charges  and  faced  so  many  rebel  cannon, 
yet  trusting  in  the  Lord,  and  dying  for  their  country,  they  are 
not  afraid  to  face  death  and  eternity.  To  see  so  many  mangled 
heroes,  with  sloughing  stumps,  bleeding  wounds,  and  amputated 
limbs,  strewn  over  a  ward,  lying  upon  their  death-beds,  and  to 
look  around  arid  see  this  and  that  brave  patriot  struggling  in  the 
agonies  of  death,  dying  that  the  nation  might  live,  deeply  im- 
presses one  with  the  horrors  of  war,  with  the  great  price  of  liberty, 
and  the  solemnity  of  death.  We  often  received  patients  mangled 
all  over  with  six  or  eight  wounds,  and  so  severe  that  they  were 
unable  to  turn  in  bed,  and  yet  with  patience  and  good  nursing 
they  would  get  along  and  get  well.  Here  lies  a  man,  shot  in  the 
mouth,  the  ball  passing  out  at  the  back  of  his  neck ;  yet  he  is  so 
full  of  courage,  he  still  lives,  jovial  and  cheerful. 

HOSPITAL  VARIETY   MONOTONOUS. 

Notwithstanding  the  variety  of  the  daily  routine  of  hospital 
life ;  the  reveille  in  the  morning,  and  the  tattoo  in  the  evening ; 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  k  293 

the  daily  carrying  live,  wounded  men  in,  and  the  daily  carrying 
dead 'men  out,  together  with  the  stirring  strains  of  music  by  the 
Hospital  band,  and  the  mournful  notes  of  the  death  march  at 
the  soldier's  funeral,  with  muffled  drums,  etc.,  yet,  withal  to  the 
old  incumbent,  there  was  much  dull  monotony.  Hence  the 
strong  desire  among  the  patients  for  something  new  and  excit- 
ing, and  usually  having  on  hand  from  ten  to  twelve  hundred 
convalescents,  it  was  no  trouble  to  get  up  a  large  meeting  almost 
any  time. 

SOLDIERS  GOING   HOME. 

Since  the  fall  of  the  rebellion,  we  have  had  a  great  rush  of 
convalescents  to  this  hospital,  to  be  discharged ;  and  "  I  want  my 
discharge  papers  and  my  pay  "  has  been  the  ringing  cry  of  the 
hospital  for  weeks.  This  is  natural.  Tired  of  hospital  life,  and 
anxious  to  see  "  the  loved  ones  at  home,"  everybody  wants  to  go 
first.  Hence  the  familiar  "  Good-by,  Jim,"  and  the  warm  fare- 
well shake  of  hands,  are  of  constant  occurrence ;  and  it  is  solemn. 
It  is  a  farewell,  perhaps,  to  meet  no  more  on  earth.  And  while 
they  are  going  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  a  day,  others  here  are 
going  to  their^  long  home  at  the  rate  of  four  or  five  a  day.  A 
good  many  rebel  prisoners  have  been  brought  in  lately,  and 
many  of  them  being  in  a  bad  condition,  they  drop  off  rapidly. 
Many  of  them  come  with  their  Bibles  and  Testaments,  which 
they  have  carried  through  the  war ;  and  many  of  them  seem  to 
be  religious  men,  and  often  ask  to  be  prayed  for,  and  desire  to 
hear  religious  service.  I  have  seen  many  a  one  weep  profusely  on 
his  death-bed,  and  give  clear  evidence  of  piety.  The  approach 
of  death  seems  to  knock  rebellion  out  of  them.  Besides,  a  great 
many  say  they  were  driven  into  it,  and  always  opposed  it. 

When  I  was  captured  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  they  put  our 
wounded  in  the  same  room  with  theirs ;  and  when  I  went  in  to 
see  them,  a  young  rebel  lying  near  by,  nigh  unto  death,  called 
me  to  come  and  pray  for  him.  I  went,  and  he  thanked  me 
heartily,  and  died  shortly  after.  While  many  are  still  rebels  at 
heart,  we  think  it  an  encouraging  fact  in  reconstruction  that  so 


294  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

many  seem  to  fear  God.     Many  of  them  think  Davis  should  be 
hung. 

We  still  have  some  three  thousand  convalescents  and  patients 
in  the  hospital,  and  more  are  expected  soon. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
LINCOLN'S   FUNERAL. 

LINCOLN'S  FUNERAL  —  DEEP  FEELING:  SOLEMN,  IMPRESSIVE  —  THE 
AUTHOR'S  ADDRESS  AT  THE  FUNERAL — SUDDEN  CHANGE  FROM 
REJOICING  TO  WEEPING  —  His  DEATH  A  Loss  TO  THE  ENTIRE 
WORLD — NATIONAL  GRIEF  UNSPEAKABLE — His  CHARACTER  — 
THE  GREAT  EMANCIPATOR  AND  FRIEND  OF  THE  SLAVE  —  SELF- 
MADE —  THE  SAVIOUR  OF  HIS  COUNTRY — RELIGIOUS  CHARACTER: 
BROUGHT  UP  TO  PRAY,  AND  READ  THE  BIBLE  —  His  LAST  REQUEST  : 
"  PRAY  FOR  ME  " — "  I  LEAVE  MYSELF,  MY  COUNTRY,  AND  ALL  IN 
THE  HANDS  OF  GOD." 

LINCOLN'S   FUNERAL. 

AT  the  suggestion  of  President  Johnson,  according  to  an  order 
issued  by  Dr.  McClellan,  Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  in 
charge  of  the  aforesaid  hospital,  some  two  thousand  five  hundred 
heart-smitten  patients,  officers,  strangers,  and  citizens  assembled, 
April  19,  1865,  to  participate  in  the  national  obsequies  of  the 
lamented  President.  The  meeting,  held  in  the  open  air,  was 
peculiarly  solemn  and  impressive.  Filled  with  sorrow  and  an- 
guish, everybody  turned  out  to  mingle  their  tears  with  a  nation 
crushed  with  grief  under  this  most  severe  national  bereavement. 
Every  soldier  and  patient  that  could  get  out  of  bed  and  crawl 
was  there.  There  they  came,  with  amputated  limbs,  broken 
bones,  tender  wounds,  and  frail  bodies,  limping  along  on 
crutches,  to  unite  in  the  solemn  service,  with  hearts  throbbing 
with  grief  over  the  loss  of  their  beloved  commander-in-chief. 
There,  too,  were  hundreds  of  colored  patients  and  people  bathed 


CHRISTIANITY    IX    THE    WAR.  2J)5 

in  tears,  wringing  their  hearts  with  grief  over  the  invaluable 
loss  of  their  best  friend  and  great  emancipator.  There,  too,  were 
two  companies  of  the  Veteran  Reserves,  in  mourning  attire, 
deeply  lamenting  the  loss  of  the  nation's  savior.  There,  deeply 
impressed  with  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  crushed  with  un- 
utterable grief,  waiting  beneath  a  shining  sun  until  the  hour 
appointed,  when  the  exercises  were  commenced  with  a  solemn 
dirge  by  the  band,  followed  with  the  reading  of  suitable  passages 
of  Scripture,  accompanied  with  a  few  appropriate  introductory 
remarks  by  Chaplain  Marshall ;  whereupon  Chaplain  Billings- 
ley  led  the  weeping  assembly  in  prayer.  After  singing,  Chap- 
lain Raymond  followed  with  an  able,  appropriate  address,  ana- 
lyzing the  character  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  highly  eulogizing 
his  invaluable  services  to  the  country,  "when  Chaplain  Billings- 
ley  followed  in  a  strain  similar  to  the  previous  speaker,"  in  the 
following  speech.  The  exercises  were  concluded  with  brief  re- 
marks and  an  appropriate  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Craighead,  editor 
of  the  New  York  Evangelist,  when  the  vast  assemblage  dispersed 
to  their  respective  quarters,  deeply  impressed  with  the  great  loss 
and  the  solemnities  of  the  memorable  occasion.  With  the  flags 
all  hung  at  half-mast,  business  suspended,  the  hospital  buildings 
draped  in  the  deepest  mourning,  and  every  countenance  clothed 
in  sorrow  and  grief  inexpressible,  all  nature  seemed  to  present 
an  aspect  of  lamentation  and  woe.  The  assassination  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  the  greatest  shock  America,  or  the  world,  ever 
received. 

ADDRESS  AT  LINCOLN'S  FUNERAL. 

How  solemn  and  impressive  this  scene !  How  deep  and  pungent 
the  national  sorrow!  Although  it  is  caused  by  one  man's  death, 
yet  the  impression  is  so  deep,  it  seems  as  though  there  was  one 
dead  in  every  house.  When  Washington  died,  the  grief  and  an- 
guish was  very  great  and  national ;  but  that  stroke  was  not  so 
severe  as  this.  The  circumstances  are  very  different.  Then  the 
country  was  at  peace ;  to-day  it  is  baptized  with  fraternal  blood, 
with  a  martyred  President  in  his  coffin.  How  very  sudden  the 
change.  Yesterday,  the  nation  was  all  alive  with  rejoicing ; 


296  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

to-day,  it  is  wrapped  in  the  deepest  mourning.  Yesterday 
all  eyes  were  gleaming  with  joy ;  to-day,  millions  are  flash- 
ing with  vengeance  upon  the  treacherous,  fiendish  assassin. 
And  is  Abraham  Lincoln  dead?  Is  he  no  more?  Though 
dead,  he  still  lives.  The  bright  example  he  left  us,  and  the 
great  good  he  done  us,  will  live  after  him.  The  great  principles 
he  taught  and  advocated  are  immortal.  No  man  liveth,  and  no 
man  dieth,  to  himself.  Though  he  met  an  untimely  death,  yet, 
enshrined  in  the  affections  and  enthroned  upon  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  he  will  live  embalmed  in  their  memory  forever. 
How  very  great  his  loss !  Who  can  calculate  it  ?  It  is  irrep- 
arable. None  can  fill  his  place.  Blessing  with  his  kind- 
ness, through  his  bright  example  of  pure  patriotism,  stern  integ- 
rity, and  broad,  comprehensive  principles  of  humanity,  liberty, 
and  justice,  the  nations  of  the  earth,  his  death  is  a  severe  loss  to 
the  entire  world.  And  we  are  here  to-day,  in  common  with 
millions  of  weeping  hearts  all  over  the  land,  to  mingle  our  tears 
with  theirs  upon  this  most  severe  national  bereavement.  Upon 
such  an  occasion  as  this,  it  is  manly  to  weep.  A  great,  wise, 
noble,  patriotic,  good  man  is  dead.  "  How  are  the  mighty 
fallen?"  Flushed  with  victory,  yesterday  Abraham  Lincoln 
filled  the  presidential  chair,  covered  with  glory  and  honor;  to- 
day he  lies  a  stiffened  corpse,  enshrouded  in  the  flag  he  died  a 
martyr  to  defend.  Gather  round,  and  gaze  upon  his  noble  form 
as  he  lies  in  state.  Draw  down  that  napkin.  Ah,  me !  see  how 
his  visage  is  marred  by  the  ruthless  hand  of  that  vile  assassin. 
Oh,  how  lamentable  and  heart-rending  the  scene !  How  great 
the  calamity !  How  severe  the  rebuke !  With  the  nation's 
head,  with  the  nation's  favorite,  with  the  nation's  greatest  bene- 
factor, snatched  away  without  a  moment's  warning,  in  such  a 
time  as  this,  language  fails  to  express  and  heart  to  conceive  the 
unspeakable  grief  and  sadness  of  a  heart-smitten  nation. 

The  murder  of  Ca3sar  in  the  Roman  senate  was  atrocious ; 
hanging  Union  soldiers  by  scores  for  their  loyalty  in  North 
Carolina  was  barbarous;  the  wholesale,  cold-blooded  massacre 
at  Fort  Pillow  was  fiendish ;  starving  to  death  thousands  of  sol- 
diers in  Andersonville  was  horrible  beyond  description ;  but 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  297 

these  most  shocking,  crimes,  culminating  in  the  diabolical  murder 
of  President  Lincoln  and  attempted  national  assassination,  are 
second  only  to  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus  Christ  upon  Mount  Cal- 
vary !  It  would  seem  that  hell  had  disgorged  and  robbed  itself 
to  send  forth  the  blackest  devil  to  scourge  and  chasten  us !  And 
although  the  earth  did  not  quake,  nor  the  rocks  rend,  nor  the 
sun  refuse  to  shine,  yet,  appalled  with  horror  and  crushed  with 
grief,  everything  wears  an  aspect  of  lamentation  and  woe,  and 
wraps  the  nation  in  the  deepest  gloom  and  mourning. 

Yet,  fellow-soldiers  and  fellow-citizens,  let  us  not  be  discouraged ; 
though  our  dearest,  best  personal  and  national  friend  is  gone, 
despair  not;  let  not  your  hearts  be  troubled  ;  "  be  of  good  cheer." 
Jehovah  Jesus  still  rules  and  reigns  high  over  all,  and  head 
over  all  things  to  the  Church  !  God  is  still  our  refuge  and 
strength,  therefore  we  will  not  fear,  though  our  chief  executive  is 
removed  from  us !  The  wheels  of  government  will  still  roll  on ; 
our  armies  will  march ;  victories  will  follow ;  the  soldiers  will  go 
home;  his  widowed  wife  and  bereaved  mother  will  weep  ;  that 
dear  old  flag,  now  dearer  than  ever,  will  still  wave  over  the 
country  Abraham  Lincoln,  under  God,  redeemed  from  treason ; 
but  from  his  warm  gushing  heart  we  will  receive  no  more  proc- 
lamations nor  kind  messages.  Touching  his  character,  wisdom, 
good  sense,  sound  judgment,  magnanimity,  pure  patriotism, 
shrewd  sagacity,  moral  courage,  simplicity,  kindness,  and,  above 
all,  stern  integrity,  were  among  his  most  prominent  traits.  De- 
voted to  his.  country,  he  was  a  true  friend  to  the  soldier,  and 
made  the  preservation  of  the  Union  the  principal  object  of  his 
administration.  The  great  emancipator  and  special  friend  of  the 
slave,  he  freed  millions  by  proclamation,  and  gave  them  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Government.  Born  in  obscurity  and  brought  up 
in  poverty,  through  his  own  persevering  efforts  he  rose  from  the 
humblest  walks  of  life  to  the  highest  position  on  earth ;  and 
while  "Washington  is  "  the  father,"  Abraham  Lincoln  well  de- 
serves the  title  of  "  the  savior,"  of  his  country. 

The  nation  to-day  is  burying  the  lamented  President.  Burying 
him !  burying  Abraham  Lincoln  !  No  :  you  cannot  do  it,  no 
more  than  you  can  bury  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the 


298  CHEISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Constitution,  the  Bible,  or  the  history  of  your  country  ;  no  more 
than  you  can  bury  the  everlasting  hills,  mountains,  lakes,  rivers, 
and  oceans  !  No :  he  will  live  on  ;  live  all  over  the  world,  and  live 
through  all  coming  time!  Nations,  kingdoms,  and  empires  may 
rise,  flourish,  fade,  and  fall ;  generations  will  pass  away ;  the  bed 
of  the  Chesapeake  may  shift ;  the  Potomac  may  dry  up  ;  the 
ocean's  swelling  tide  may  cease  to  roll ;  the  blue  hills  of  Virginia 
may  give  way  to  the  mouldering  hand  of  time ;  and  every  Lin- 
coln monument  may  crumble  to  the  dust  —  but  HIS  NAME  and 
HIS  DEEDS  will  live  as  long  as  time  rolls  on  ! 

Born  of  a  pious  mother,  and  brought  up  to  the  Bible,  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  taught  to  pray  before  he  could  pronounce  his 
Maker's  name.  Deeply  impressed  with  the  responsibilities  of 
his  position,  and  feeling  his  need  of  divine  aid  on  leaving  home 
for  Washington,  his  last  request  of  his  friends  was,  "Pray  for 
me  ! "  And  during  his  last  years,  like  Havelock,  he  usually 
spent  from  one  to  two  hours  every  morning  in  reading  God's 
word,  meditation,  and  prayer.  Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  man  of 
prayer  ;  and  as  the  difficulties  and  responsibilities  of  his  position 
increased,  and  bore  more  heavily  upon  his  tender  heart,  it  drove 
him  nearer  to  God.  Hence  we  hear  him,  in  times  of  great 
emergencies,  giving  vent  to  his  feelings  in  such  words  as  these: 
"  I  have  been  driven  many  times  to  my  knees  by  the  over- 
whelming conviction  that  I  had  nowhere  else  to  go.  My  own 
wisdom,  and  that  of  all  about  me,  seemed  insufficient  for  that 
day."  Filled  with  sorrow  upon  the  death  of  his  son,  he  said  to 
a  sympathizing  friend,  "  I  will  try  to  go  to  God  with  my  sor- 
rows." Soon  after,  she  asked  him  if  he  could  trust  God ;  he 
said,  "  I  think  I  can,  and  I  will  try."  Very  much  distressed 
about  the  loss  at  the  second  defeat  at  Bull  Run,  he  said,  "  I  have 
done  the  best  I  could ;  I  have  asked  God  to  guide  me,  and  now 
I  must  leave  the  event  with  him."  But  the  highest  expression 
of  his  sublime  faith  and  devotion  to  God  is  seen,  perhaps,  in  his 
words  to  a  friend  during  the  dark  days  of  Gettysburg.  "  I  rolled 
on  Him  the  burden  of  my  country,  and  rose  from  my  knees 
lightened  of  my  load,  feeling  a  peace  that  passes  all  understand- 
ing,—  feeling  I  could  leave  myself,  my  country,  and  my  all  iu 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  299 

the  hands  of  God."  These  bright  manifestations  of  his  fervent 
prayers,  strong,  unwavering  faith,  taken  in  connection  with  the 
purity  of  his  life,  his  devotion  to  his  country,  his  meek,  forgiving 
spirit,  his  unselfish  disposition,  his  "  charity  for  all,  and  malice 
toward  none,"  together  with  the  reliance  upon  God  and  submis- 
sion to  his  will,  expressed  in  his  last  Inaugural  Address,  so  deeply 
impresses  the  unprejudiced  mind,  that  we  can  no  longer  doubt 
that  for  him  "  to  die  was  gain,  and  to  depart  far  better." 
Having  passed  away  from  the  thrilling  scenes  of  a  most  eventful 
life,  and  the  difficulties  of  reconstruction  and  restoring  peace,  he 
has  gone,  we  trust,  where  no  vile  rebel  lurks,  and  where  no  foul 
assassin  prowls.  Yes,  crowned  with  all  the  glories  of  martyrdom, 
he  has  gone,  we  trust,  "where  the  wicked  cease  to  trouble,  and 
the  weary  are  forever  at  rest;"  gone  where  there  will  be  no 
more  war,  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow  nor  crying ;  where  God 
himself  shall  wipe  away  all  tears.  This  being  so,  how  striking 
the  contrast  between  his  condition  on  earth  and  his  condition  in 
heaven.  Here  all  is  war,  blood,  and  death ;  there  all  is  life,  joy, 
and  peace.  Here  he  was  surrounded  with  the  dead  and  dying ; 
there  with  the  redeemed  and  living.  Here  he  bore  a  sword, 
there  he  wears  a  crown ;  here  he  sat  upon  the  presidential  chair, 
there  he  sits  upon  the  throne  of  God.  And  though  dead,  he  yet 
speaketh ;  his  tongue,  though  now  mute  in  death,  seems  to  say 
to  his  successor,  to  every  member  of  his  cabinet,  to  every  senator 
and  congressman,  to  every  officer,  soldier,  and  sailor  of  the  army 
and  navy,  "  Be  ye  also  ready ! "  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God  !  " 


300  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE   STREAM   OF   DEATH. 

THE  FIRST  SOLDIERS  KILLED  IN  THE  WAR  —  REBEL  CRUELTY  TO  THE 
DEAD  —  DEATH  OF  COL.  BAKER  —  GEN.  LYON'S  BRAVERY  AND 
DEATH  —  DEATH  IN  THE  MISSISSIPPI  VALLEY  AND  ON  THE  PENIN- 
SULA —  REMOVAL  OF  GEN.  MCCLELLAN  —  GEN.  ROSECRANS'  BRAVERY 
AT  STONE  RIVER  —  "THE  BLOODIEST  BATTLE  OF  THE  WAR" — THE 
BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG  THE  DEATH-BLOW  OF  THE  REBELLION  — 
GEN.  GRANT  ASSUMES  COMMAND  IN  CHIEF— "ON  TO  RICHMOND " 
—  DEATH  OF  GEN.  SEDGWICK  —  BATTLE  OF  COAL  HARBOR  — 
SIMULTANEOUS  MOVEMENT  OF  ARMIES—  GEN.  SHERMAN  AT  AT- 
LANTA —  GEN.  SHERIDAN'S  VICTORIES  IN  THE  SHENANDOAH 
VALLEY  —  BATTLE  AT  FRANKLIN,  TENN.  —  GEN.  SHERIDAN'S 
STRATAGEM  AT  CEDAR  CREEK — LINCOLN  CALLS  FOR  MORE  VOLUN- 
TEERS —  GEN.  SHERMAN  COMPLETES  His  "  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA  "  — 
SLAVERY  ABOLISHED  BY  CONGRESS,  JAN.  31,  1865 — GRANT'S  LAST 
"GREAT  STRIKE"  —  FALL  OF  RICHMOND,  FLIGHT  OF  JEFF. 
DAVIS,  AND  SURRENDER  OF  GEN.  LEE  —  MORTALITY  DURING  THE 
WAR  —  THE  DESERTER. 

AS  soon  as  the  war  was  inaugurated,  the  stream  of  death 
began  to  flow,  and  it  continued,  with  slight  variations,  until 
the  war  closed.  The  first  man  killed  was  private  Daniel  Hough, 
who  fell  nobly  defending  his  country  at  the  rebel  bombardment 
of  Fort  Sumter,  April  12,  1861.  The  next  blood  shed  and 
lives  lost  was  in  an  encounter  of  the  6th  Massachusetts  with  an 
outrageous  mob  in  Baltimore,  while  on  their  way  to  Washington 
to  defend  the  President  and  national  capital  from  prowling  assas- 
sins. In  this  severe  struggle  the  immortal  6th,  commanded  by 

Col. Jones,  lost  two  killed  and  nine  wounded ;  while  the 

assailants  lost  nine  killed  and  eight  severely  wounded.  The 
next  patriotic  blood  that  crimsoned  the  stream  of  death  was  that 
of  the  brave  Col.  Ellsworth,  which  provoked  a  prompt  revenge 
by  Brownell,  and  the  blood  of  both  patriot  and  assassin  ran  com- 
mingly  together  in  Alexandria,  May  24,  1861.  The  next  influx 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  301 

into  tliis  mortal  stream  was  at  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel,  where 
some  three  or  more  brave  boys  tasted  death ;  among  them  was 
Major  Winthrop,  who  was"  shot  by  a  North  Carolina  drummer- 
boy,  and  fell  dead  while  bravely  leading  his  men  into  battle. 
Following  down  the  crimson  tide  of  this  widening  stream,  until 
you  reach  the  bloody  field  where  Americans  first  met  Americans 
in  pitched  battle  upon  the  gory  field  of  Bull  Run,  and  there  you 
see  death  invading  our  ranks,  and  bearing  off  some  five  hundred 
more  noble  heroes,  who  sealed  their  devotion  to  their  country 
with  their  blood.  At  this  sad  defeat  the  nation  was  thrown  into 
the  deepest  gloom,  and  thousands  were  wringing  their  hearts 
with  grief  over  the  most  sad  misfortune.  Not  satisfied  with  the 
victory  won,  to  add  ignominy  to  defeat,  the  rebels  buried  our 
men  with  their  faces  downward,  and  took  their  bones  for  drum- 
sticks and  finger-rings,  and  their  skulls  for  goblets  and  punch- 
bowls. From  that  time  on,  during  the  long  four  years  of  bloody 
strife,  Death,  like  a  mighty  tyrant,  reigned  through  the  ranks 
of  our  brave  heroes,  bearing  them  off  by  hundreds  and  thousands 
at  every  great  battle. 

Tracing  down  still  further  the  surging  waves  of  this  mighty 
struggle  for  national  life,  we  see  Death,  like  a  stern  monarch, 
going  forth  conquering  and  to  conquer;  and  at  the  terrible 
slaughter  at  Ball's  Bluff,  in  a  desperate  conflict  against  awful 
odds,  bearing  off  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  more  noble  heroes, 
among  whom  was  the  brave,  noble,  and  magnanimous  Col. 
Baker,  who  fell  in  the  heat  of  battle  from  the  discharge  of  eight 
pistol-balls  into  his  body  by  a  red-headed  and  black-hearted  rebel, 
who  also  fell  the  next  minute  in  a  similar  manner  by  a  prompt 
avenger,  Capt.  Beirel,  who  with  one  fire  of  his  pistol  laid  the 
ruthless  traitor  brainless  beside  one  of  freedom's  noblest  martyrs. 

The  next  large  influx  into  this  rising  stream  was  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Wilson's  Creek,  Mo.,  where  the  brave  Gen.  Lyon,  and 
some  two  hundred  and  thirty  more  gallant  soldiers,  nobly  sacri- 
ficed their  lives  upon  the  altar  of  their  country.  In  the  hot  fury 
of  the  battle,  Lyon  calls  to  his  men,  "  Prepare  to  charge  the 
enemy,"  when  the  brave  Io\vans,  thirsting  for  victory,  cry  out, 
•''Who  will  lead  us?"  Whereupon  Gen.  Lyon  exclaimed, 


302  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"  Come  on,  brave,  brave,  men,  I  will  lead  you !  "  In  a  moment, 
the  general  was  at  their  head,  and  on  they  pushed  amidst  a  most 
galling  fire  of  rebel  musketry,  slightly  checking  their  advance ; 
but  on  they  rushed,  and  in  a  moment  the  rebels  gave  way, 
"  the  army  was  saved,  but  Lyon  was  dead  !  "  Receiving  two 
bullets  in  his  breast,  he  fell  immediately ;  and  an  officer,  rushing 
to  his  relief,  anxiously  inquired,  "  Are  you  hurt  ? "  "  Not 
much,"  was  his  faint  reply.  They  were  his  last  words.  He  ex- 
pired immediately,  covered  with  all  the  glories  of  martyrdom. 

But  this  is  only  the  beginning  of  sorrows ;  only,  as  it  were,  the 
first  fruits  of  the  ravages  of  death  in  "  the  war  for  the  Union." 
As  the  conflict  increased,  we  find  the  fell  destroyer  with  one  vast 
sweep  of  his  ruthless  scythe  mowing  down  thousands  in  a 
single  battle.  Sweeping  down  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi, 
the  king  of  terrors  made  havoc  of  the  nation's  defenders;  slay- 
ing seventeen  hundred  and  thirty-five,  and  wounding  seven 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-two,  with  a  total  loss  of  near 
fourteen  thousand  at  the  bloody  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing, 
April  7, 1862,  with  a  rebel  loss  of  sixteen  thousand,  and  twenty- 
seven  hundred  killed.  At  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  Md., 
September  14,  1862,  four  hundred  and  forty-three  more  noble 
patriots  fell  out  of  the  Union  ranks  into  the  river  of  death,  with 
eighteen  hundred  and  six  more  wounded,  together  with  a  rebel 
loss  of  some  four  thousand,  and  five  hundred  killed. 

Going  forth  on  his  pale  horse,  this  mighty  conqueror,  during 
the  Peninsula  campaign,  swept  away  thousands  and  thousands, 
many  of  whom  left  their  uncoffined  bones  bleaching  in  the  dis- 
mal swamps  of  Virginia.  At  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  Va., 
three  hundred  of  our  brave  boys  fell  beneath  his  iron  grasp ;  and 
with  one  fell  stroke  of  his  devouring  hand,  at  the  great  battle  of 
Antietam,  Md.,  September  17,  1862,  he  plucked  from  our  noble 
army  two  thousand  and  ten  heroic  patriots,  who  left  the 
world  to  wear  a  martyr's  crown.  The  wounded  numbered 
9416  ;  total  loss,  12,469  :  rebel  loss,  25,000.  Brig.-Gen.  Mans- 
field, U.S.A.,  was  killed  in  this  battle.  In  the  two  days' 
battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  eight  hundred  and  ninety  more  fell  at 
their  posts,  defending  the  cause  of  God,  liberty,  and  truth,  with 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  303 

thirty-six  hundred  and  twenty-seven  wounded.  In  the  hard- 
fought  battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  together  with  the  seven  or 
eight  battles  fought  during  Gen.  McClellan's  retreat  from  Rich- 
mond, including  all  from  Median icsville  to  Malvern  Hill, 
twelve  hundred  and  sixty-five  more  of  our  Union  braves  tasted 
death,  and  sealed  their  devotion  to  their  country  with  their  blood. 
In  these  battles  our  wounded  were  7701;  total  loss,  14,92-4 :  rebel 
loss  estimated  at  18,000.  The  last  important  battle  of  the  Pen- 
insula campaign  was  fought  at  Cedar  Mountain,  Va.,  August  19, 
1862,  in  which  our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  twelve 
hundred  and  fifty.  Thus  Death  reigned  throughout  our  armies, 
spreading  destruction  on  every  side. 

On  August  16,  1862,  Gen.  McClellan,  having  failed  to  take 
Richmond,  moved  his  entire  army  from  Harrison's  Landing,  via 
Fortress  Monroe.  Va.,  to  Alexandria  and  Washington. 

The  next  great  influx  into  this  raging  stream  was  at  the  battle 
of  Bull  Run,  August  29,  1862,  where,  said  Gen.  Pope  command- 
ing, "our  loss  was  not  less  than  eight  thousand  killed  and  wound- 
ed, and  the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  at  least  two  to  our  one."  Gen. 
McClellan  was  then,  immediately  after  the  battle  of  Antietam, 
removed,  and  Gen.  Burnside  took  his  place.  But  the  stream  of 
death  still  flowed  on.  At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Va., 
fought  as  it  was  under  great  disadvantages,  our  death-defying 
heroes  made  three  successive  charges  on  the  rebels,  strongly 
entrenched  behind  a  stone  wall,  and  were  thrice  driven  back  with 
great  slaughter,  with  a  loss  of  over  twelve  thousand  (12,321), 
while  the  rebels'  loss  was  comparatively  few,  as  they  fought  under 
cover.  Flowing  round  by  the  battle  of  Corinth,  three  hundred 
and  fifteen  more  brave  patriots  fell  dead  into  this  sweeping  stream, 
and  thirteen  hundred  more  fell  badly  wounded  upon  its  gory 
banks.  Here  the  rebels  lost  fourteen  hundred  killed  and  eigh- 
teen hundred  wounded.  The  President  having  about  this  time 
called  into  the  field  six  hundred  thousand  more  men,  tended  to 
swell  the  size  of  this  rising  stream. 

At  the  hard-fought  battle  of  Stone  River,  the  rebels,  com- 
manded by  Geri.  Bragg,  fighting  with  great  determination,  thrice 


304  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

repulsed  our  men.  But  Gen.  Sheridan  rallying  his  men,  and 
eager  for  victory,  drove  them  back  four  times  with  heavy  loss. 
Still  they  held  on,  and,  coming  up  again,  they  received  a  most 
galling  fire.  At  this  juncture  the  rebels  fell  back,  and  the  firing 
ceased.  The  Federal  troops,  commanded  by  General  Rosecrans, 
had  been  worsted  in  the  fight,  and  lost  some  three  thousand  killed 
and  wounded.  The  enemy  had  also  suffered  terribly ;  yet,  not 
willing  to  give  up,  Gen.  Rosecrans  called  a  council  of  his  generals, 
and  sternly  declared  to  them,  "  We  conquer,  or  die  right  here ! " 
and  the  fire  flashing  into  their  hearts,  his  officers  resolved  to  rally 
again,  and  conquer  or  die  on  the  spot.  Confident  of  success, 
on  came  the  defiant  rebels  bold  as  lions,  and  our  heroic  braves, 
pitching  into  them  mowed  them  down  with  great  slaughter,  and 
drove  them  across  the  shallow  river  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 
In  this  severe  struggle,  Death  plucked  from  our  ranks  ninety- 
three  brave  officers  and  fourteen  hundred  and  forty-one  privates  ; 
officers  wounded,  384;  privates,  6865.  Flowing  down  the 
valley  of  the  lower  Mississippi,  this  mortal  stream  swept  away 
five  hundred  and  forty-five  more  gallant  soldiers  at  the  battle  of 
Vicksburg,  four  hundred  and  twenty-six  at  Champion's  Hills, 
and  one  hundred  and  thirty  at  Port  Gibson.  And  flowing  on 
still  further  down,  at  the  capture  of  Port  Hudson  over  two 
thousand  more  were  killed  and  wounded.  The  fall  of  Vicks- 
burg and  capture  of  Port  Hudson  again  removed  the  obstruc- 
tions from  the  Mississippi  River.  Burnside  being  relieved,  Gen. 
Hooker  took  his  place,  and  soon  began  the  fourth  campaign 
against  Richmond.  But  the  river  of  death  still  flowed  on,  and 
at  the  disastrous  battle  of  Chancellorsville  it  was  swollen  with 
the  blood  of  some  ten  thousand  more  brave  heroes  bleeding  and 
dying  for  the  country's  cause,  among  whom  was  Gen.  Berry, 
who  fell  gallantly  leading  his  men  in  battle  Sabbath  night. 
Gen.  Lee  pronounced  this  "the  bloodiest  battle  of  the  war," 
and  the  rebels  estimated  their  loss  at  from  sixteen  to  eighteen 
thousand,  among  whom  was  the  brave  Stonewall  Jackson,  who 
died  soon  after  from  wounds  received  in  this  bloody  fight. 

Not  long  after  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  Gen.  Lee  made 


CHRISTIANITY    IS    THE    WAR.  305 

his  great  disastrous  raid  np  north  into  Pennsylvania ;  and  at  the 
decisive  battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863,  the  king  of  terrors, 
with  showers  of  balls  flying  thick  as  hail,  streaming  forth  from 
some  three  hundred  and  fifty  guns,  blackening  the  air,  swept 
away,  as  with  the  besom  of  destruction,  two  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  thirty-four  heroic  veterans,  leaving  thirteen  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  nine  bleeding  with  wounds  upon  the  hotly 
contested  field.  Total  loss,  twenty-three  thousand  one  hundred 
and  eighty-six.  The  rebels  lost  over  forty-five  hundred  killed, 
buried  by  Union  men,  with  over  thirteen  thousand  prisoners, 
and  an  estimated  total  loss  of  thirty  thousand.  Death  reigns ! 
Viewed  prospectively,  and  taking  it  all  in  all,  this  was,  doubtless, 
one  of  the  most  important  battles  ever  fought  in  the  world. 
Here  the  head  of  the  serpent  was  bruised,  and  the  rebellion,  in 
all  its  ramifications,  was  struck  with  death !  Here,  beneath  the 
shades  of  Independence  Hall,  whence,  eighty-seven  years  before, 
was  issued  the  "  Declaration  of  Independence,"  declaring,  for  the 
first  time,  that  all  men  are  created  free  and  equal,  the  decree 
went  forth,  amidst  streams  of  blood  and  death  against  the 
rebellion,  that,  dying,  thou  shalt  die  ! 

Thus  mortally  wounded,  the  rebellion  struggled  along  several 
months,  and  expired  April  9, 1865,  at  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee, 
near  Appomattox  Court-House,  Va. 

Sweeping  round  to  the  West,  at  the  hard-fought  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  or  Chattanooga,  sixteen  hundred  and  forty-four 
more  gallant  heroes  fell  beneath  his  withering  grasp,  leaving 
eight  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-eight  bleeding  on  the 
gory  field,  with  a  rebel  loss  of  eighteen  thousand  seven  hundred 
killed  and  wounded.  Sweeping  round  his  great  scythe,  Death 
swept  hundreds  more  from  our  ranks  at  the  battle  of  Missionary 
Ridge.  And  at  the  heavy  assault  upon  Fort  Wagner,  in 
Charleston  harbor,  we  lost  some  fifteen  hundred  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  Here  the  54th  Mass,  distinguished 
themselves.  Placed  in  advance  of  two  brave  brigades,  and 
giving  a  fierce  yell  as  they  approached  the  strong  fort,  on  they 
rushed  amidst  furious  volleys  of  grape  and  canister,  plunging 
through  a  ditch  of  water  four  feet  deep,  and  scaling  the  parapet, 


306  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  fighting  with  perfect  desperation,  left  their  brave  Col.  Shaw, 
with  over  one-half  of  their  number,  dead  upon  the  ensanguined 
field.  The  next  heavy  influx  into  this  swelling  stream  was  at 
the  awful  massacre  at  Fort  Pillow;  when  (April  12, 1864,)  the 
ferocious  rebels,  under  command  of  Gen.  Forrest,  indiscrimi- 
nately butchered,  in  cold  blood,  over  four  hundred  men,  white 
and  black,  after  they  had  surrendered  and  laid  down  their  arms. 
"  Those  who  begged  for  quarter  were  shot  down  and  bayoneted ; 
even  the  women  and  children  were  killed  and  wounded." 

On  March  10,  1864,  Gen.  Grant,  by  appointment  of  President 
Lincoln,  assumed  the  command  of  the  armies  of  the  United 
States,  with  his  head-quarters  in  the  field.  But  still  the  stream 
of  death  flowed  on  rapidly.  On  the  second  of  the  following  May, 
the  Lieutenant-General,  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  crossed 
the  Rapidan,  and  commenced  the  fifth  campaign  against  Rich- 
mond, and  soon  came  in  contact  with  Gen.  Lee  and  his  deter- 
mined forces.  For  two  days  they  fought  the  bloody  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  with  a  Union  loss  of  some  fifteen  thousand,  including 
Gens.  Hays  and  Wadsworth.  The  rebel  loss  was  about  equal  to 
the  Federal.  It  was  remarkable  in  this  deadly  battle,  fought  in 
the  midst  of  thick  woods,  with  the  sabre  and  the  rifle,  that  each 
army  "claimed  to  have  repelled  the  fierce  attack  of  the  enemy." 

But  unterrified  with  these  heavy  losses,  the  mighty  conflict 
still  went  on,  and  raged  with  great  fury  at  the  battle  of  Spottsyl- 
vania,  where  both  armies  fought  with  great  determination. 
Every  inch  of  soil,  drunk  with  human  blood,  was  fought  over 
with  perfect  desperation,  and  with  rival  bayonets  interlocked  in 
the  bloody  grapple  over  the  entrenchments,  lasting  for  hours, 
with  rebel  battle-flags  surging  up  alongside  with  ours,  Death 
made  great  havoc  in  our  ranks,  and  the  heroic  dead  were  left 
upon  the  gory  field  in  heaps.  It  was  here,  May  11,  1864,  after 
six  days'  very  hard  fighting,  with  a  heavy  loss  on  both  sides, 
"  with  much  in  our  favor,"  the  rebels  having  retreated  during 
the  night,  after  five  unsuccessful  attempts  to  drive  our  troops, 
that  the  persistent  Grant  heroically  declared,  in  words  immortal, 
"  I  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line,  if  it  takes  all  summer  ! " 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  307 

Gens.  Rice  and  Stevenson  were  killed  on  the  first  day  of  this 
great  battle,  and  many  under-officers  on  the  third.  Full  casual- 
ties not  given.  But  the  severest  loss  was  that  of  Gen.  Sedgwick, 
who  was  on  the  advance  with  his  men,  where  the  rebel  bullets 
were  flying  thick  and  fast.  The  soldiers  dodged ;  and  one  falling 
to  the  ground,  the  general  humorously  said  to  them,  "Pooh, 
pooh,  men  !  who  ever  heard  of  a  soldier  dodging  a  bullet  ? 
Why,  they  could  not  hit  an  elephant  at  this  distance."  The  men 
laughed ;  the  general  smiled ;  but  it  was  his  last  smile.  The 
next  moment  the  fatal  bullet  pierced  his  face,  and  passing  through 
his  brain,  he  fell,  and  expired  without  uttering  a  word.  "  Watch," 
"  be  ye  also  ready ! " 

Both  armies  were  now  largely  re-enforced,  and  Grant,  with 
unconquerable  will,  swings  his  brave  boys  around,  and  again 
coming  in  contact  with  his  formidable  adversary  at  Cold  Harbor, 
they  had  another  desperate  struggle.  Here  the  two  armies  had 
lain  entrenched  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  each  other, 
and  one  Federal  brigade  within  fifteen  yards  of  the  rebels.  Thus 
exposed,  panting  for  victory,  our  men,  with  death  staring  them 
in  the  face,  boldly  assault  the  rebels  behind  their  breastworks, 
and  were  mown  down  like  grass,  with  a  loss  of  some  seventy- 
five  hundred,  while  the  rebels  reported  a  loss  of  one  thousand. 
Simultaneous  with  Grant's  crossing  the  Rapidan,  and  opening 
his  vigorous  campaign  against  Richmond,  was  Sherman's  ad- 
vance upon  Atlanta,  Sigel's  into  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah, 
and  Butler's  up  the  James  upon  Fort  Darling.  And  while  these 
mighty  armies  sallied  forth  with  buoyant  spirits,  thirsting  for 
victory  over  their  inveterate  foe,  Death  went  forth  upon  his  pale 
horse,  conquering  and  to  conquer ;  and  while  he  made  such  fear- 
ful slaughter  in  Grant's  ranks,  he  also  slew  his  hundreds  and 
thousands  in  Sherman's  and  Butler's.  At  the  well-fought  battle 
of  Resaca,  Ga.,  managed  by  the  strategetic  Sherman,  about  eight 
hundred  brave  patriots  fell  beneath  his  iron  grasp,  and  over  four 
thousand  more  were  wounded  in  the  bloody  conflict.  The  next 
day  Gen.  Butler's  forces,  while  investing  Fort  Darling,  were 
attacked  in  heavy  masses  by  Beauregard's  forces,  in  a  dense  fog, 


308  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  were  surprised  and  defeated,  with  a  loss  of  twenty-five  hun- 
dred killed  and  wounded;  the  rebels  sustaining  a  loss  nearly 
equal  to  ours.  Thus  we  see  "  the  king  of  terrors  "  is  no  respecter 
of  persons  ;  but,  whetting  his  sword,  he  enters  indiscriminately 
the  Union  and  rebel  ranks,  and  plucks  his  victims  from  the  very 
flower  of  both  armies. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  1864,  in  Sherman's  attack  upon  the 
rebels  entrenched  upon  Kenesaw  Mountain,  he  was  repulsed 
with  great  slaughter,  with  a  loss  of  thirty-five  hundred  and 
twenty-one,  inflicting  but  little  damage  upon  the  rebels.  And 
although  the  people  prayed  for  peace  and  the  cessation  of 
bloodshed,  yet  the  stream  of  death  flowed  on;  and  we  next  see 
its  ravages  up  in  Maryland,  slaying  hundreds  in  the  battle  of 
Monocacy,  where  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  Union  and  three 
hundred  rebel  soldiers  fell  into  its  crimson  flood.  Then,  flow- 
ing around  over  Sherman's  great  "march  to  the  sea,"  in  the 
investing  and  fall  of  Atlanta,  the  Federal  loss  in  three  battles, 
on  three  different  days,  was  ninety-seven  hundred,  with  a  rebel 
loss  of  twenty-four  thousand  and  five  hundred.  And  in  one  of 
these  decisive  battles,  fought  July  22,  1864,  which  raged  with 
great  fury,  Sherman  commanding  in  person,  and  when  the  15th 
Corps  had  been  worsted  somewhat,  the  brave  general  ordered 
them  to  regain  their  lost  ground  at  any  cost ;  and  again  plunging 
into  the  fierce  conflict,  determined  to  conquer  or  die,  they  drove 
the  ruthless  rebels  with  tremendous  shouts  of  victory  and  re- 
joicing, with  a  rebel  loss  of  twelve  thousand,  with  over  three 
thousand  killed,  while  the  Federals  lost  only  thirty-seven  hundred. 
In  this  important  battle,  the  heroic  Gen.  James  B.  McPherson 
fell,  while  giving  command  to  his  staff.  Shot  through  the  lungs 
by  a  volley  of  bullets  from  sneaking  rebel  skirmishers,  he  fell 
dead  from  his  horse,  crowned  with  the  glories  of  dying  for  his 
country.  Gen.  Sherman,  with  a  force  of  some  ninety  thousand 
men,  lost,  in  his  campaign  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  thirty- 
one  thousand  three  hundred  and  one,  while  the  rebels  sustained 
a  loss  of  forty-three  thousand  seven  hundred  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  309 

Gen.  Sheridan  having  assumed  command  of  the  middle  mili- 
tary division  August  7,  1864,  and  after  a  few  weeks  of  splendid 
mano3uvring  to  prevent  rebel  forces  being  sent  south  to  re- 
enforce  Hood  at  Atlanta,  finally,  when  opportunity  favored,  he 
massed  his  troops,  and  thirsting  for  victory,  we  see  the  next 
general  rise  in  the  river  of  death  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenan- 
doah,  where  the  brave,  dashing  Sheridan  whipped  and  drove 
the  bloodthirsty  rebels,  with  a  loss  of  some  ten  thousand  in  the 
battles  of  Opequan  and  Fisher's  Hill,  with  an  estimated  Union 
loss  of  four  thousand.  Still  increasing  his  reign,  the  next  heavy 
dash  "the  last  enemy"  made  upon  our  noble  veterans  was 
at  the  bloody,  hard-fought  battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.,  where  the 
Federals  and  rebels,  coming  in  close  contact,  fought  each  other 
with  bayonets  and  clubbed  muskets,  with  perfect  desperation,  for 
hours,  till  darkness  closed  the  bloody  scene,  with  a  Federal  loss  of 
twenty-one  hundred,  and  with  a  rebel  loss  of  seventeen  hundred 
and  fifty  killed,  and  about  five  thousand  wounded,  embracing  six 
general  officers  killed,  and  six  wounded.  Still  carrying  out  the 
decree,  "  death  hath  passed  upon  all  men,"  and  swinging  around 
his  fatal  scythe  again  in  the  battles  of  Nashville,  the  Federals 
lost  twenty-nine  hundred,  and  the  rebels  twenty-five  hundred,  in 
killed  and  wounded. 

Yet,  as  though  never  satisfied,  the  old  tyrant,  Death,  still  rides 
forth,  building  up  his  kingdom;  and  the  next  victory  he  achieves 
is  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  among  the  unterrified  ranks 
of  the  indomitable  Sheridan,  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek. 
Having  just  won  two  signal  victories,  Sheridan  had  gone  to 
Washington,  and  on  his  return,  upon  approaching  his  head- 
quarters, and  hearing  the  loud  roar  of  artillery  in  the  direction 
of  his  army,  he  soon  found  them  all,  to  his  great  surprise  and 
deep  mortification,  in  full  retreat,  closely  pressed  by  the  sagacious 
Gen.  Early  ;  but,  galloping  up  in  full  speed  to  the  front,  he  com- 
manded his  retreating  army  to  halt,  and  by  the  prestige  of  his 
power,  the  majesty  of  his  courage-inspiring  presence,  together 
with  the  lightning  flash  of  his  vivid  eye,  infused  fresh  cour- 
age into  his  vanquished  heroes ;  and  quickly  forming  them  into 


310  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

line  of  battle,  and  wheeling  them  about,  charged  and  drove  the 
conquering  rebels  in  wild  confusion,  with  an  estimated  loss  of 
ten  thousand  men  and  officers,  while  our  loss  was  only  sixty-five 
hundred,  including  fifteen  hundred  prisoners.  The  Union  Gen. 
Bidwell  and  Col.  Thoburn  fell  in  this  battle. 

President  Lincoln  now,  December  20,  1864,  issued  a  call  for 
three  hundred  thousand  more  troops;  and  Sherman  went  on 
driving  the  rebels  before  him  like  chaff  before  the  wind,  sim- 
ply at  his  approach,  and  completed  his  "great  march  to  the 
sea,"  and  there  achieved  a  great  bloodless  victory  in  the  capture 
of  Savannah,  and  made  of  it,  with  all  its  spoils,  a  fine  Christ- 
mas gift  to  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Commencing  the  year  1865  with  an  army  of  six  hundred  and 
five  thousand  men,  and  the  rebels  with  some  three  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand,  Gen.  Sherman,  having  made  preparations  for 
leaving  Savannah,  began  his  long,  difficult,  and  most  extraordi- 
nary march  of  near  five  hundred  miles  through  swamps,  and 
storms,  and  creeks,  and  over  mountains,  deemed  by  others  almost 
impassable,  in  the  most  inclement  season  of  the  year.  On  the 
21st  of  March,  with  a  loss  of  one  thousand  in  the  campaign,  his, 
the  army  of  Gen.  Schofield  from  Newbern,  and  Terry's  from 
Wilmington,  all  crowned  with  victory,  and  highly  jubilant  with 
success,  with  a  happy  coincidence  all  met  in  conjunction  at 
Goldsborough,  N.  C.,  demonstrating  the  complete  success  of  the 
triune  campaign.  But  while  this  happy  juncture  was  transpir- 
ing, the  stream  of  death,  though  having  long  since  been  running 
down,  was  still  making  further  inroads  in  our  ranks,  and  we  see 
our  unyielding  braves  coming  out  of  the  battle  of  Averysboro' 
with  a  loss  of  seven  hundred  and  twenty,  and  out  of  the  battle  of 
Bentonsville  with  a  loss  of  sixteen  hundred  and  forty-six.  And 
although  Congress,  January  31,  1865,  passed  the  Constitutional 
Amendment,  abolishing  slavery  forever  in  the  United  States, 
with  tremendous  cheering  and  shouts  of  rejoicing,  and  with  the 
rebellion  now  cut  in  two,  and  the  great  cause  of  the  war  removed 
in  the  national  decree  to  "  let  the  oppressed  go  free,"  with  heaven 
smiling  upon  the  cause  of  right  and  liberty,  with  the  rebels 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  311 

fighting  in  "the  last  ditch,"  the  speedy  collapse  of  the  rebellion 
began  to  loom  up  from  all  quarters.  The  rebellion  is  doomed! 
"  The  die  is  cast ! "  and  the  immortal  Grant,  concentrating  his 
mighty  cohorts,  fully  primed,  in  his  strong  embattlements  around 
Petersburg,  prepares  to  make  the  last  great  strike ;  and  with  the 
rebellion  "  on  its  last  legs,"  and  the  veteran  Gen.  Lee  trembling 
for  his  cause,  the  fatal  hour  arrives,  and  the  crisis  comes.  Grant 
gives  the  word,  and  the  final  struggle  rages  with  great  fury  along 
his  whole  line  of  thirty  miles ;  and  the  disheartened  rebels  giving 
way  in  every  quarter,  Lee's  army  was  almost  annihilated,  and 
the  old  veteran  army  of  the  Potomac  again  covers  itself  with 
glory.  Thus,  with  the  battle  fought  and  the  victory  won,  on 
the  morning  of  April  3,  18G5,  at  four  A.M.,  filled  with  enthu- 
siastic exultation,  our  brave,  victorious  Union  saviors  entered 
the  long  fought  for  city  of  Petersburg  amid  loud  shouts  of  re- 
joicing. 

In  this  grand,  decisive  struggle,  in  the  battles  of  Hatcher's 
Run,  Fort  Steadman,  and  Five  Forks,  etc.,  Gen.  Grant  estimated 
our  loss  at  about  five  thousand  killed  and  wounded,  and  some  two 
thousand  prisoners ;  while  the  dispirited  rebels,  fighting  with  far 
less  desperation  than  usual,  lost  some  twelve  thousand  killed  and 
wounded,  and  about  thirteen  thousand  prisoners.  On  the  same 
day,  Jeff.  Davis  and  his  vanquished  rebels  having  evacuated 
Richmond,  with  a  large  part  of  it  wrapped  in  flames,  fired  by  their 
own  hands,  Gen.  Weitzel  entered  it  at  a  quarter  past  eight  A.M., 
with  most  enthusiastic  expressions  of  joy  from  the  inhabitants. 
Thus  ended  the  march  "  On  to  Richmond ! "  and  with  the  "  sur- 
render of  Lee  to  Gen.  Grant,"  amidst  loud,  prolonged  cheering, 
thus  ended  the  gigantic  rebellion,  conceived  in  sin  and  brought 
forth  in  iniquity  ;  and  crushed  most  suddenly,  it  went  down  with 
the  deepest  grief  and  greatest  mortification  to  them,  but  with  the 
profoundest  gratitude  and  highest  joy  to  us.  And  now,  with 
the  stream  of  death  drying  up,  once  more  "  all  is  quiet  on  the 
Potomac." 

The  average  daily  mortality  during  the  war  was  about  two 


312  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

hundred  and  fifteen,  making  in  all  about  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five  thousand  (some  put  it  at  316,000)  brave  heroes  who 
sacrificed  their  lives  battling  for  God,  liberty,  and  truth.  How 
are  the  mighty  fallen  !  See  how  the  country  is  dqjuged  with 
their  blood,  and  the  land  ridged  with  their  graves !  Over  sixty 
thousand  died  in  rebel  prisons  from  starvation,  cruelty,  and  tort- 
ure; scores  were  hung  in  North  Carolina  for  loyalty  to  their 
country ;  hundreds  were  burned  to  death  upon  the  field  of  battle ; 
some  four  hundred  were  atrociously  murdered  in  cold  blood, 
begging  for  mercy,  at  Fort  Pillow  and  Plymouth,  N.  C. ;  some- 
times, in  severe  battles,  the  dead  lay  four  or  five  feet  deep,  and, 
in  extreme  cases,  were  used  for  breastworks, —  thus  making  the 
dead  protect  the  living,  fighting  for  the  life  of  the  nation.  Three 
hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand !  Oh,  what  a  sad  picture ! 
There  they  lie  in  scattered  heaps;  many  of  whose  uncoffined 
bones  lie  bleaching  beneath  the  rays  of  a  scorching  sun  to-day ! 
Though  they  died,  they  conquered;  though  they  died,  their 
blood  was  the  price  of  self-government,  liberty,  and  truth ;  though 
dead,  they  yet  speak ;  dead,  yet  they  live ;  and  with  their  mem- 
ory enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  a  free  people,  they  will  live 
through  all  coming  time.  There  they  lie  under  the  dominion 
of  death ;  conquerors,  yet  conquered.  Over  their  precious  dust 
Death  now  reigns  supreme!  The  saviors  of  the  nation,  yet 
crushed  beneath  the  king  of  terrors.  How  mighty  is  Death ! 
How  vast  his  dominions !  But,  glory  be  to  God !  there  is  a 
Mightier :  Jesus  Christ  hath  abolished  death,  and  brought  life 
and  immortality  to  light;  Jesus,  the  mighty  conqueror,  hath 
robbed  the  cruel  spoiler  of  his  sting,  and  vanquished  him  from 
the  tomb,  and  when  he  shall  say  the  word,  the  sea,  death,  hell, 
and  the  grave  shall  deliver  up  the  dead;  and  then  from  the 
green-turfed  grave  of  every  veteran  will  be  seen  rising  a  living 
form  coming  to  judgment,  to  be  rewarded  according  to  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body. 

The  rebel  loss  was  about  two  hundred  thousand,  making  in 
all  over  half  a  million  lives  sacrificed  in  the  bloody  conflict. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  313 

THE  DESERTER. 

The  command,  by  regiments,  marched  to  the  appointed  ground 
and  wheeled  into  a  hollow  square,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  the 
place  of  execution.  The  music  ceased.  Silence  and  soberness 
pervaded  the  vast  assembly.  Thoughts  of  the  soldier's  position 
and  responsibilities  were  in  every  bosom. 

Presently  a  solemn  dirge  is  heard  from  the  approaching  band. 
The  death  procession  comes  in  sight.  It  enters  the  square  with 
slow  funeral  tread :  the  band ;  the  guard ;  the  coffin  borne  by 
four  comrades;  the  deserter  handcuffed  between  two  officers;  the 
chaplain ;  and  the  fatal  platoon  of  twelve,  eleven  of  whose  rifles 
are  loaded  with  ball-cartridges. 

Moving  to  the  step  of  that  sad  music  around  the  entire 
interior  of  the  square,  they  wheel  to  the  centre,  and  halt  in 
front  of  the  staff  and  commanding  general. 

The  captain  in  charge  reads  the  indictment  and  sentence  of 
the  court-martial.  The  culprit  had  "  deserted  to  the  enemy,  and 
was  found  in  arms  against  his  country."  Sentence :  "  He  shall 
be  shot  to  death!" 

"  Proceed  with  the  execution !  "  is  the  general's  stern  com- 
mand. 

The  coffin  is  lowered  to  the  ground ;  the  deserter  is  brought  to 
its  side;  earnest  prayer  is  offered  in  his  behalf;  a  few  last  words 
and  the  farewell  shake  of  hands  by  the  chaplain,  and  then  the 
wretched  young  man  is  seated  upon  his  coffin.  Handcuffs  are 
removed,  eyes  bandaged,  one-half  of  that  deadly  platoon  is  held 
in  reserve,  while  the  other  is  ordered  "  ten  paces  in  front "  of 
the  victim. 

He  sits  upright,  and  apparently  firm  of  nerve,  but  both  hands 
are  braced  hard  upon  his  knees.  It  is  a  dread  moment.  Few 
nerves  around  are  firm ;  veterans,  who  could  stand  calmly  before 
a  hurricane  of  fire,  now  tremble.  The  awful  form  of  Death 
stands  out  alone !  The  door  of  the  unseen  world  is  swinging 
open!  Crime,  judgment,  and  stern  retribution  are  working 
their  terrible  impressions.  Swift,  vivid  thoughts  are  in  every 
heart,  and  "  God  have  mercy  on  him ! "  breathes  from  every  lip. 


314  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

We  had  not  long  to  wait.  "Ready!"  and  the  click  of  the  rifle- 
locks.  "Aim  !  "  the  poor  fellow's  heart  is  the  target.  "Fire  !  " 
and  before  the  report  is  heard,  he  falls  back  dead  upon  his 
coffin.  The  surgeon  approaches  and  examines :  "  He  is  dead, 
sir ! "  addressing  the  general. 

Again  the  solemn  strains  of  the  band  break  forth,  and  the 
whole  parade  forms  and  passes  in  review  of  the  corpse,  followed 
by  a  gloomy  ambulance.  The  body,  dripping  with  blood,  is 
placed  in  its  coffin,  and  put  in  the  ambulance,  with  only  the 
guard  attending,  finds  its  way  to  the  lonely  and  dishonorable 
grave. 

The  troops,  who  had  witnessed  the  execution,  took  up  their 
line  of  march  back  to  camp  and  duty,  awed  with  the  majesty  of 
violated  law,  feeling,  as  never  before,  how  serious  a  thing  it  is 
to  be  a  soldier,  and  how  sacred  is  the  cause  of  our  country. 

Such  is  the  sad  fate  of  the  deserter :  a  grief  and  shame  to  his 
parents ;  a  disgrace  to  his  country,  and  a  curse  to  the  army. 
CAST  OFF  !  cast  off  by  his  country,  and  cut  off  by  the  army  ! 
Oh,  how  lamentable !  to  be  cast  off  by  the  world,  and  by  all 
earthly  friends,  is  terrible  and  awfully  severe !  But  it  is  nothing 
to  being  cast  off  by  God,  and  be  cast  down  into  hell !  And  why  ? 
Why  thus  cast  off,  led  out,  made  to  kneel,  and  be  shot  dead  in 
his  coffin  ?  Simply  because  he  had  deserted  the  flag  of  his 
country  and  gone  over  to  the  enemy.  That,  it  is  true,  is  a  great 
sin  and  crime ;  but  it  is  nothing,  sinner,  to  your  sin  in  forsaking 
God  and  rejecting  the  Saviour.  This  poor  man,  simply  because 
he  deserted  the  army,  and  took  up  arms  against  his  country,  was 
arrested,  tried,  condemned,  and  executed,  shot  dead  on  his  coffin, 
and  buried  in  a  lonely,  dishonorable  grave.  And  what,  O  im- 
penitent sinner,  have  you  done?  You  have  deserted  God,  and 
rejected  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  gone  over  to  the  service  of 
Satan.  And  you  have  been  arrested,  tried,  and  condemned ; 
yes,  "  condemned  already  ! "  In  mercy,  God  now  waits,  delays 
the  day  of  your  execution.  He  has  waited  long  —  is  waiting 
still !  But  he  will  not  always  wait.  He  says,  "  My  Spirit  shall 
not  always  strive  with  man."  Oh,  then,  my  impenitent  friend, 
let  me  entreat  you  to  repent  and  come  to  Jesus,  and  come  just  now. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  315, 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE   NATIONAL   CEMETERY   AT   FORTRESS   MONROE,    VA. 

NUMBER  OF  GRAVES—  THE  PLACE  OF  MANY  PRAYERS,  SIGHS,  AND 
TEARS  —  THE  OLD  MAN  WEEPING  AT  His  SON'S  GRAVE  —  WHO 
ARE  THE  DEAD  ?  —  How  DID  THEY  DIE  ?  —  SOLDIERS'  DYING 
WORDS  —  THE  MONUMENT  —  THE  INSCRIPTION  —  BURYING  THE 
DEAD  —  NATIONAL  CEMETERIES  —  GENERAL  SUMMARY. 


large  depository  of  the  patriotic  dead  lies  about  two 
-*-  miles  west  of  the  fort,  off  Hampton  Roads,  and  hard  by  the 
once  aristocratic  town  of  Hampton  ;  washed  by  the  swelling  tide 
of  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  lying  on  an  arm  of  the  same,  fringed 
on  one  side  by  thorn  and  evergreen  bushes,  and  overlooked  by 
the  lofty  dome  of  the  Chesapeake  Hospital,  "  it  is  beautiful  for 
situation."  Made  sacred  by  containing  the  remains  of  so  many 
brave  heroes  and  dear  friends,  it  is  a  place  of  much  resort. 
There  lie  the  dead,  close  to  the  sacred  spot  upon  which  thousands 
of  them  once  lived,  moved,  suffered,  bled,  and  died  in  Hampton 
Hospital  ;  there,  close  by  the  solemn  scenes  of  their  last  struggle, 
where  many  prayed  and  wept  for  the  preservation  of  the  country 
and  for  the  salvation  of  the  suffering,  dying  soldier,  now  sleep 
in  death  their  mortal  remains,  wrapped  in  plain  shrouds,  and 
cased  in  rough,  red  coffins. 

Embracing  an  area  of  nearly  twelve  acres  of  valuable  land, 
and  containing  four  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-five  graves,* 
all  marked  with  neat  head-boards,  painted  white,  containing  the 
name,  company,  regiment,  and  date  of  death  of  every  deceased 
soldier,  and  all  laid  out  with  tine  gravel  walks,  the  cemetery 
presents  quite  a  neat  appearance. 

It  has  been  the  scene  of  many  earnest  prayers,  deep  emotions, 
tender  sighs,  and  gushing  tears.  How  often  have  we  here  seen 
the  bereaved  widow,  mother,  and  father  weeping  over  their 
lamented  dead,  watering  their  graves  with  their  tears,  and  refus- 
ing to  be  comforted,  because  they  were  not. 

Here  we  have  seen  the  sadly  disappointed  father  come  all  the 

*  Sept.  4,  18G8. 


316  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

way  from  New  England,  laden  with  cordials  and  good  things  for 
his  sick  and  wounded  son,  and,  on  arriving,  found  him  dead  and 
buried  in  this  lonely  graveyard.  Stung  with  grief,  the  weeping 
father  at  once  asks  the  chaplain,  "  When  did  he  expire  ? " 
"  Day  before  yesterday,"  replied  the  chaplain.  "  How  did  he 
die?"  "In  the  triumphs  of  faith,  giving  bright  evidences  of 
preparation,  saying,  *  I  am  ready ;  all  is  peace ! ' "  "  Thank 
God!"  exclaimed  the  bereaved  parent.  "Is  he  buried?" 
"  Yes."  "  Where  ?  "  "  Over  there,  in  the  soldier's  graveyard." 
As  the  chaplain  had  not  time  to  accompany  him,  being  engaged 
in  attending  a  funeral,  the  old  man  starts  at  once  in  search  of  his 
grave.  There  he  goes  :  see  how  anxiously  he  looks  for  it ;  see 
how  he  weeps  as  he  goes :  mark  his  steps ;  listen  to  his  throb- 
bing heart  as  he  approaches  it :  there,  he  has  found  it !  How 
solemn  the  scene !  There  he  stands,  hushed  in  silence,  bathed 
in  tears  and  wrapped  in  grief.  Silence  reigns ;  he  looks,  sighs, 
drops  the  tears  of  affection,  and  thinks  unutterable  things ! 
Pensive  he  gazes  upon  the  new-made  grave,  and,  in  the  sadness 
of  a  smitten  heart,  exclaims,  "  O  my  son,  my  dear,  only  beloved 
son ! "  and  again  the  gushing  tears  trickle  down  his  furrowed 
cheeks.  Deeply  moved  with  sorrow  and  the  solemnity  of  the 
scene,  the  aged  sire  falls  prostrate  upon  the  ground,  and  from  the 
bottom  of  his  heart  pours  out  his  soul  in  thanks  to  God  for  the 
faithful  life  and  triumphant  death  of  his  departed  son.  Having 
watered  the  grave  with  his  tears,  and  consecrated  it  with  his 
prayers,  the  bereaved  father  starts  to  go  away ;  but,  held  and 
drawn  by  the  tender  ties  of  affection,  he  rushes  back  and  pours 
out  another  flood  of  tears.  And  there,  overcome  with  sorrow 
and  crushed  with  grief,  under  the  influence  of  a  kind  of  momen- 
tary delirium  rising  in  the  depths  of  his  emotions  of  grief,  as 
though  his  son  rose  again  to  life,  he  exclaims,  "  Farewell,  James, 
farewell !  May  God  bless  you  !  "  And,  repossessing  his  powers, 
he  tears  himself  away,  and  leaves  the  sacred  spot.  After  giving 
his  cordials  to  other  needy  patients,  and  gathering  up  his  son's 
clothes  and  assets,  with  a  broken  heart  the  aged  father  starts 
again  for  his  home  in  New  England.  Such  were  the  frequent 
mournful  scenes  of  this  graveyard. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  317 

WHO  ARE  THE  DEAD? 

As  soldiers,  they  were  a  part  of  the  very  bone  and  sinew  of 
the  country,  the  guardians  and  defenders  of  the  Republic,  and 
the  protectors  of  our  homes,  fathers,  mothers,  and  orphans. 
Whence  came  they  ?  From  almost  every  State  of  the  Union. 
Those  buried  here  during  the  war,  being  principally  from  the 
"Army  of  the  James,"  are  chiefly  from  New  England,  New  York, 
and  Pennsylvania,  besides  some  six  hundred  colored  soldiers, 
who,  except  a  small  sprinkle  from  New  England  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, are  from  the  former  slave  States  of  the  South.  It  for- 
merly contained  none  but  those  who  died  in  Hampton  Hospital ; 
but  since  the  close  of  the  war,  all  the  soldiers  and  officers  that 
were  buried  at  the  Chesapeake,  and  in  the  vicinity,  have  been 
transferred  here.  Here  are  those  who  died  at  the  old  Hygiea  Hos- 
.pital,  besides  many  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac  that  passed 
away  in  this  vicinity  during  Gen.  McClellan's  first  campaign 
against  Richmond.  Here,  too,  are  scores  of  brave  heroes,  who  fell 
victims  to  the  untold  horrors  and  fiendish  cruelty  of  Anderson- 
ville,  who  died  in  Hampton  Hospital.  Here,  too,  lie  many  of  the 
heroic  braves  of  Fort  Fisher,  of  whom  said  Admiral  Porter, 
"  The  world  never  saw  such  fighting  as  they  did."  Here,  too, 
lie  many  who  shared  in  the  glories  of  the  last  great  victory 
achieved  at  Petersburg,  which  brought  down  Richmond,  put  Jeff. 
Davis  to  flight,  and  resulted  in  the  overthrow  of  the  rebellion. 
Here,  too,  lie  those  whose  blood  has  stained,  and  whose  dissevered 
limbs  have  enriched,  almost  every  battle-field  from  Fortress 
Monroe  to  and  around  Richmond. 


HOW   DID   THEY  DIE? 

It  was  my  privilege  to  preach  to  thousands,  and  to  converse 
and  pray  with  many  hundreds  of  them  on  their  death-beds, 
pointing  them  to  Christ,  and  by  the  mercies  of  God  and  the  love 
of  Jesus,  and  by  the  joys  of  heaven,  to  entreat  and  beseech  them  to 
be  reconciled  to  God.  As  they  were  free  to  express  their  feelings 
as  I  canvassed  their  hearts  and  wrote  down  their  experience,  I 


318  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

had  a  good  opportunity  to  learn  their  condition.  Patience  and 
resignation  were  among  the  most  marked  features  of  their  deaths. 
Inured  to  hardness  and  toil,  with  hearts  brave  and  courageous, 
they  rose  above  all  murmur  and  complaint.  Deeply  and  thor- 
oughly loyal  and  patriotic,  they  counted  all  things  but  loss  for 
the  salvation  of  the  country ;  so  that  each  one  might  in  truth 
have  said,  as  he  passed  away,  in  the  immortal  words  of  Swiss 
"Winkelried :  "  1  make  way  for  liberty"  I  remember  hearing 
one  brave  fellow  say,  when  suffering  very  severely,  "  I  can  afford 
to  suffer,  since  Christ  has  suffered  so  much  for  me."  With 
bodies  bathed  in  blood  and  racked  with  pain,  yet,  with  a  sublime 
faith,  gazing  into  the  eternal  world,  I  have  seen  them,  with 
souls  apparently  swimming  in  a  flood  of  glory,  rise  above  all 
doubts  and  fears,  ready,  waiting,  to  die,  and  even  longing  to 
depart.  In  a  word,  they  died  as  they  fought, —  like  heroes,  with- 
out a  murmur  or  a  complaint.  While  some  seemed  to  go  "  with- 
out hope,"  a  great  many  gave  bright  evidence  of  preparation, 
expressing  their  assurance  and  bright  prospects  in  such  words  as 
the  following  :  "I  am  not  afraid  to  die !  "  "The  Lord  is  mine ! " 
Another,  deeply  concerned  for  his  companion  at  home,  said, 
"  Tell  my  wife  to  prepare  for  death :  I  have  found  Jesus."  An- 
other, with  heaven  in  full  view,  exclaimed,  "I  am  ready;  ready 
to  go  any  time ! "  Another,  full  of  patience  and  submission,  said, 
among  his  last  words,  "  Not  my  will,  but  God's  be  done."  The 
dying  request  of  another  good  boy,  who  anxiously  cared  for  his 
mother,  was,  "Tell  my  mother  not  to  fret  forme:  I  died  happy." 
Another,  racked  with  pain,  with  his  leg  off  above  the  knee,  ex- 
claimed with  deep  emotions,  in  the  presence  of  his  weeping  wife, 
"This  wound  is  God's  rod  to  comfort  me:  it  is  for  my  good;" 
and,  drawing  nearer  unto  God,  he  said,  "  Christ  is  dear  and  pre- 
cious; he  is  all  my  life,  and  I  can  do  nothing  without  him," 
and  his  disembodied  spirit,  \vashed  in  the  Saviour's  blood,  went 
home  to  glory.  Another,  having  made  a  full  surrender  of  him- 
self to  the  Saviour,  said,  "  I  gave  my  heart  to  Jesus,  and  now  I 
can  die  in  triumph."  Another,  apparently  filled  with  the  fulness 
of  God,  among  his  last  words,  said,  "  All  is  well ! "  and  soon 
passed  home  to  glory.  Another,  after  struggling  long  under 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  319 

deep  conviction  in  seeking  religion,  at  last  exclaimed,  at  the  top 
of  his  voice,  "I  have  got  it!  I  have  got  it!"  and  commenced 
shouting,  "  Glory  to  God  !  hallelujah  to  the  Lamb!  "  Another 
aged  colored  soldier,  past  sixty-nine  years  old,  when  I  asked 
him,  "  What  brought  you  into  the  army  ? "  replied,  "  God  got 
me  to  come  in:  God  called,  and  I  obeyed;"  and  as  his  frail 
bark  began  to  give  way,  lying  upon  his  bed,  patient  as  Job  and 
meek  as  Moses,  he  said,  "  The  Lord  is  with  me ;  I  have  no 
trouble ; "  and,  as  his  thoughts  flit  home,  he  said,  "  The  Lord 
may  spare  me  to  go  home ;  but  if  not,  (  all  is  well ! '  '  God's 
will  be  done.'  '  I  can  die  happy  ! '  "  and  he  soon  passed  away. 
Another  clear-headed,  praying  veteran  said,  as  his  clay  tenement 
began  to  fail,  "  I  love  my  Saviour,  therefore  I  don't  fear."  "  I 
can  die  happy  :  it  is  glorious ;  there  is  nothing  like  it !  "  and  he 
continued  praying,  and  exhorting  his  comrades  to  watch  and 
pray  and  be  faithful,  until  his  voice  was  hushed  in  death.  But 
another  who  had  felt  some  anxiety  and  concern  about  his  salva- 
tion, but  apparently  feeling  himself  lost,  exclaimed,  a  little 
before  he  expired,  "  It  is  too  late ! "  arid  his  destiny  was  sealed 
forever.  Then,  we  repeat  it,  "  they  died  as  they  fought,  like 
perfect  heroes."  Peace  be  to  their  ashes.  Let  their  heroic  deeds 
be  embalmed  in  the  memory  and  enshrined  in  the  heart  of  every 
American  patriot. 

With  all  due  honor  to  the  officers,  it  is,  after  all,  principally 
the  soldiers  who  fight  the  battle  and  win  the  victory.  They 
have  borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  war.  And  for  their  faith- 
ful service  they  deserve  monuments  more  durable  than  brass. 
The  hardness  they  have  endured,  the  sacrifices  they  have  made, 
and  the  price  they  have  paid  in  toil,  sweat,  and  blood  for  our 
country's  salvation,  is  of  such  a  value  that  it  can  never  be 
repaid.  The  Government  may  pension  their  widows,  orphans, 
and  heirs  with  all  the  vacant  land  in  the  country,  and  with  all 
the  gold  of  California ;  the  people  may  erect  to  their  memory 
the  most  gorgeous  monuments  of  marble  decked  with  rich  plates 
of  gold  and  silver;  the  historian  may  write  their  names  bright 
upon  the  historic  page,  and  engrave  it  high  upon  the  escutcheon 
of  the  country ;  every  surviving  patriot  may  erect,  for  each  one, 


320  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

a  monument  of  the  warmest  gratitude  and  affection  in  the  bot- 
tom of  his  heart;  but  we  can  never  do  enough  for  them. 
There  they  lie ;  and  though  dead,  they  yet  speak  !  A  voice  from 
every  green-turfed  grave  and  uncoffined  bone  cries  to  the  sur- 
viving patriot,  Be  faithful  to  your  trust  !  A  voice  from  their 
mangled  bodies,  and  amputated  limbs,  and  ball-perforated  heads, 
cries  aloud  to  every  loyal  heart,  Stand  by  the  flag,  and  cling  to 
the  cross !  Yes,  there  they  lie,  waiting  the  sound  of  the  last 
trump  summoning  them  to  rise  and  come  to  judgment,  when 
their  maimed,  mangled  bodies,  sown  in  corruption,  weakness, 
and  dishonor,  will  be  raised  in  power  and  glory,  without  the  loss 
of  a  hair  or  a  limb ;  and  the  redeemed,  with  their  souls  washed 
in  the  blood  of  Jesus,  will  be  caught  up  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the 
air,  and  dwell  with  him  in  heaven,  where  there  will  be  no  more 
war,  "  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow  nor  crying,  for  the  former 
things  are  passed  away." 

"  The  only  national  debt  we  never  can  pay  is  the  debt  we 
owe  to  our  victorious  Union  soldiers  and  sailors !  " 

THE  MONUMENT. 

Standing  in  the  centre  of  this  vast  charnal-house  is  a  splendid 
marble  monument,  seventy-one  feet  high,  resting  upon  a  solid 
base  nineteen  and  a  half  feet  square,  well  proportioned,  gradu- 
ally tapering  to  the  top.  Built  of  fine  granite,  it  will  last  as 
long  as  "the  everlasting  hills."  Bearing  the  appropriate  in- 
scription : 

"IN   MEMOEY 


UNION    SOLDIERS 


it  will  hand  down  to  future  generations  the  heroic  patriotism  and 
daringdeeds  of  those  whose  memory  itwas  reared  to  commemorate. 
This  inscription,  surmounted  above  with  a  spread  eagle,  and  with 
cross  cannons  on  the  right  and  cross  muskets  with  fixed  bayo- 
nets on  the  left,  adds  much  to  the  taste  and  appearance  of  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  321 

monument.  Enclosed  with  a  good,  substantial  iron  fence,  made 
of  old  musket-barrels  with  fixed  bayonets,  with  six-pounders  for 
posts,  it  is  well  secured  from  all  outward  encroachments.  Amer- 
ican patriots  guard,  protect,  preserve  it;  and  if,  through  the 
mouldering  hand  of  time,  it  should  ever  fall  and  crumble  to  the 
dust,  let  another,  more  lofty,  substantial,  and  grand,  rise  in  its 
place ;  and  there  let  it  stand,  and  forever  mark  the  sacred  spot 
where  sleeps  in  death  the  precious  dust  of  nearly  five  thousand 
brave  heroes  who  fell  defending  the  cause  of  God,  liberty,  and 
self-government.  Guard  and  protect  it,  so  that  if  ever  our 
patriotism  should  grow  cold,  we  may  go  and  gaze  upon  this 
grand  structure,  and  call  to  mind  the  heroic  devotion,  the  severe 
suffering,  and  self-sacrificing  spirit  of  those  who  shed  their  blood 
and  severed  their  limbs  from  their  bodies  that  not  a  star  should 
be  riven  from  the  flag  of  the  Union;  guard  and  protect  it- 
through  all  coming  time,  so  that  if  ever  bloody  treason  should 
again  lift  its  foul  head  against  the  Government,  the  heroic  ex- 
ample of  those  whose  courageous  deeds  it  commemorates  may 
infuse  into  the  hearts  of  their  posterity  that  daring  courage 
which  will  urge  them  at  once  to  put  it  down  at  all  hazards. 
Officers,  soldiers,  and  sailors  of  the  United  States  army  and 
navy,  guard  and  protect  it,  that  it  may  stand  as  a  living  emblem 
of  the  great  principles  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  for 
which  these,  and  over  three  hundred  thousand  other  martyred 
heroes,  fought,  bled,  and  died  in  crushing  treason  and  putting 
down  rebellion ;  guard  and  protect  it,  and  hang  upon  its  lofty 
summit  the  dear  old  flag,  and  there  let  it  forever  wave  over  the 
precious  dust  of  those  noble  hearts  which  once  beat  high  with 
patriotic  ardor,  and  around  whose  encoffined  bones  it  was  wrapped 
as  they  were  borne,  by  cart-loads,  from  the  dead-house  to  their 
graves.  Yes,  guard  and  protect  it,  and  there  let  it  stand  forever, 
not  only  as  a  "  memorial  of  the  dead,"  and  the  principles  they 
died  for,  but  as  a  standing  declaration  of  a  firm  determination 
of  the  living  to  maintain  them  at  all  hazards,  though  "blood 
flow  to  the  horse's  bridle,"  and  "  death  come  up  to  the  window." 
Ite  erection  was  first  conceived  before  the  rebellion  was 
quelled.  Even  while  it  was  in  full  blast,  many  of  those  who 


322  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

now  lie  beneath  it,  were  pouring  out  their  blood,  offering  up 
their  prayers,  and  laying  down  their  lives  for  their  country;  yea, 
while  the  "irrepressible  conflict"  was  still  fiercely  raging,  and 
the  land  was  yet  drunk  with  patriotic  blood,  with  the  «troam  of 
death  rising  and  flowing  on  at  the  rate  of  over  two  hundred 
a  day,  just  when  ten  thousand  Union  prisoners  were  escaping 
from  Andersonville  prison,  and  while  victory  after  victory  was 
following  our  armies  at  the  front,  a  few  officers  of  Hampton  and 
Chesapeake  Hospitals  determined  upon  its  erection.  We  con- 
sulted Dr.  E.  McClellan,  Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  Army,  surgeon 
in  charge  of  the  hospital,  with  reference  to  it,  March  6,  1865 ; 
and  in  a  few  days  he  appointed  the  four  chaplains  of  the  hos- 
pital to  raise  money  in  their  respective  divisions  for  its  erection, 
and  by  March  14  we  had  collected  three  hundred  dollars,  with 
over  as  much  more  on  subscription.  Most  of  this  was  raised  by 
Chaplain  Roe  and  the  writer.  The  soldiers  contributed  very 
liberally.  One  noble  -  hearted  patriot  from  New  England,  al- 
though he  had  lost  both  a  leg  and  an  arm  in  the  war,  gave  five 
dollars  out  of  eleven,  all  he  had.  Some  gave  ten  dollars.  At  the 
call  of  the  surgeon  in  charge,  a  "  monument  board  "  was  formed 
July  14,  1865,  with  Dr.  E.  McClellan,  chairman,  Chaplain  Roe, 
treasurer,  and  Chaplain  Marshall,  secretary.  Late  in  July  Dr.  Mc- 
Clellan left  the  hospital,  and  Ass't  Surgeon  J.  H.  Frantz,  U.S.A., 
who  succeeded  him,  was  made  chairman  of  the  monument  board; 
and  at  the  close  of  the  year  the  funds  raised  amounted  to  over 
one  thousand  dollars.  Special  honor  is  due  to  Chaplain  Marshall 
for  his  persevering  and  self-denying  efforts  in  raising  funds,  in 
securing  the  co-operation  of  the  War  Department  in  establishing 
the  cemetery,  and  in  obtaining  a  deed  for  the  cemetery  ground. 
The  entire  cost  of  the  monument  was  twelve  thousand  dollars; 
eleven  thousand  dollars  of  which  were  raised  by  Miss  Dix,  who 
very  often  visited  the  hospital  during  the  war,  and  witnessed 
something  of  the  severe  suffering  of  the  heroic  martyrs  whose 
daring  deeds  and  mortal  remains  she  has  done  so  much  to  honor 
:and  protect.  She  engaged  in  this  noble  enterprise  at  the  request 
of  Chaplain  Marshall.  Eternal  thanks  and  praise  to  her  and  to 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  323 

her  memory,  and  to  those  who  contributed  of  their  time  and 
money  for  this  noble  purpose. 


BURYING  THE  DEAD. 

When  a  man  dies,  his  body  is  washed,  enshrouded  in  a  clean 
shirt  and  drawers,  and  with  naked  hands  and  feet  is  carried  by 
the  nurses,  on  a  stretcher,  to  the  dead-house,  and  put  into  a 
plain  red  coffin.  The  soldier's  name,  company,  and  regiment  are 
painted  on  the  underside  of  the  coffin-lid,  to  prevent  mistake  in 
identifying  the  deceased  in  case  of  exhuming.  At  the  hour  ap- 
pointed, the  escort,  drum-corps,  dead-cart,  pall-bearers,  and  the 
chaplain,  all  being  assembled,  the  funeral  begins  by  placing  the 
encoffined  dead  into  the  cart,  each  one  receiving  the  regular  dead 
salute  of  a  threefold  rapping  of  the  drums,  and  the  escort  pre- 
senting arms.  We  usually  take  five  at  a  load,  all  covered  over 
with  the  glorious  old  flag  they  died  to  honor  and  defend.  All 
ready,  with  a  slow  step  and  solemn  notes  of  the  death-march  of 
fife  and  drum,  we  march  to  the  graves,  and  with  solemn  silence 
consign  them  to  the  tomb.  Until  recently,  we  have  usually 
buried  two  loads  at  once,  and  sometimes  three.  When  the  last 
coffin  is  let  down,  all  baring  their  heads,  the  chaplain  reads  an 
appropriate  passage  of  Scripture,  makes  a  few  remarks,  —  often 
speaking  of  the  dying  messages  and  bright  prospects  of  the  de- 
parted, and  closes  with  prayer  for  the  sick,  wounded,  dying,  and 
for  the  comfort  of  the  bereaved  friends  at  home ;  and  the  escort 
having  fired  three  volleys  over  their  graves,  we  leave  them  alone 
in  their  glory,  to  await  the  sound  of  the  last  trump  summoning 
them  to  judgment. 

The  average  mortality,  out  of  from  three  to  four  thousand 
patients,  during  the  summer  of  1864,  was  from  eight  to  ten  daily. 
We  buried  twenty-six  one  day. 

Retiring  from  the  grave,  the  band  plays  a  lively,  patriotic  air, 
and  the  solemn  scene  closes,  usually  without  a  tear  being  shed, 
except  when  a  relative  happens  to  be  present.  The  graveyard  at 
Hampton  Hospital,  now  containing  some  five  thousand  graves, 
is  beautifully  situated,  and  kept  very  clean  and  neat.  A  neat 


324 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 


head-board,  bearing  the  name,  date  of  death,  company  and  regi- 
ment of  each  soldier,  marks  the  spot  where  his  mortal  remains 
lie  undisturbed. 


NATIONAL  CEMETERIES. 


The  following  extracts  from  the  Quartermaster-General's  Re- 
port of  1868  show  the  number  of  United  States  soldiers  interred 
in  the  following  National  Cemeteries  : 


MILITARY  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  EAST. 

Ifames  of  Cemeteries.  Graves. 

1.  Cypress  Hills,  L.  1 3,116 

2.  Gettysburg,  Pa 3,564 

3.  In    and    around   Philadel- 

phia, Pa 1,903 

4.  Woodlawn  Prison,  N.  Y 2,984 

5.  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y 580 

12,147 

DEPARTMENT  OF  WASHINGTON. 

1.  Arlington,  up  to  June  30, 

1868 15,547 

2.  Soldiers'  Home,  D.C 5,488 

3.  Alexandria  Military,  D.C..  3,635 

4.  At  Grafton,  W.V 1,082 

5.  Annapolis,  Md 2,486 

6.  At  Antietam,  Md 4,496 

7.  AtPt.  Lookout,  Md., Rebels  2,466 

35,200 

The  total  number  of  U.S.  soldiers  in- 
terred in  the  Department  of  Washing- 
ton is  35,500,  of  which  28,085  can  be 
probably  identified. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  BALTIMORE. 

1.  London  Park  Cemetery.Md.    1,785 

2.  The  Laurel  Cemetery,  Md. 

Colored 229 

Total 2,014 

Of  which  1,828  can  probably  be 
identified. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  LAKES. 

1.  Mound  City,  111 4,923 

2.  Crown  Hill,  Indianapolis, 

111 708 

3.  Rock  Island,  111 135 

4.  Camp  Butler,  111 647 

5.  Chicago,  111 342 


Names  of  Cemeteries.  Graves, 

6.  Cincinnati,  Ohio 655 

7.  Columbus,  Ohio 426 

8.  Evansville,  Ind 599 

9.  Camp  Denison,  Ohio 339 

10.  Quincy,  111 242 

11.  Galliopolis,  Ohio 158 


9,174 

CONFEDERATE  PRISONERS'  BODIES. 

1.  Chicago,  111 4,030 

2.  Rock  Island 1,928 

3.  Camp  Chase 2,050 

4.  Green  Lawn,  Ind l,55t> 

5.  Camp  Butler,  111 644 

6.  Camp  Denison.  Ohio 31 

7.  Mound  City,  111 40 


Rebel  prisoners  of  war 10,288 


FIRST  MILITARY  DISTRICT. 


Richmond,  Va 

Fort  Harrison,  Va 

Glendale,  Va 

Cold  Harbor,  Va 

City  Point,  Va 

Poplar  Grove  (Petersburg) 

Seven  Pines,  Va 

Yorktown,  Va 

Danville,  Va 

Hampton,  Va 

Fredericksburg,  Va 

Culpepper  C.  H.,  Va 

Winchester,  Va 

Staunton,  Va 


6,281 

814 

1,196 

1,033 

5,123 

5,599 

1,311) 

2,180 

1,316 

4,654 

14.848 

1,327 

4,385 

749 


50,854 

Of  which   18,428  can  probably  be 
identified. 

SECOND  MILITARY   DISTRICT. 
1.  Beaufort,  S.  C 10,000 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 


325 


Namti  of  Cemeteria.  Gravrt. 

•2.  Florence,  S.  C 2,795 

3.  Wilmington,  N.  C 2,0.">9 

4.  Raleigh,  N.  C 3,287 

5.  Newberne,  N.C 1,187 

6.  Salisbury,  N.  C 12,112 

7.  At  Charleston,  S.  C 80 

8.  At  Columbia,  S.  C 14 

31,534 

All  of  which  have  been  re-interred. 
Of  which  8,474  can  probably   be 
identified. 

THIRD  MILITARY  DISTRICT. 

1.  Andersonville,  Ga 13,705 

2.  Marietta,  Ga 9,972 

3.  Mobile,  Ala 834 

4.  Barrancas,  Fla 1,008 

Total 25,519 

Of  which  21,040  can  be  probably 
identified;  12,519  of  these  have  been 
re-interred  up  to  date  of  report. 

FOURTH  MILITARY  DISTRICT. 

1.  Vicksburg,  Miss 14,185 

2.  Natchez,  Miss 1,720 

3.  Little  Rock,  Ark 4,050 

4.  Fort  Smith,  Ark 1,583 

6.  Fayetteville,  Ark 1,202 


22,740 

Six  thousand  more  are  expected  to 
be  interred  here  ;  of  which  9,645  can 
probably  be  identified. 

FIFTH  MILITARY  DISTRICT. 

1.  Monument  at  Chalmetta.La.  12,230 

2.  Baton  Rouge,  La 2,891 

3.  Port  Hudson,  La 3,779 


frames  of  Cemeteries.  Oravtt. 

4.  Pinello,  La 1,487 

5.  Fort  St.  Philip,  La 326 

6.  Brownsville,  Texas 1,763 

7.  Galveston,  Texas 383 

8.  San  Antonio,  Texas 186 


23,045 
Of  which  12,073  can  be  identified. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND. 


Knoxville,  Tenn 3,153 

Chattanooga,  Tenn 12,924 

Stone  River,  Tenn 6,810 

Nashville,  Tenn 16,329 

Cumberland  River,  at  Fort 

Donelson,  Tenn 656 

Shiloh,  Tenn 3,582 

Mississippi  River,  Tenn....  13,958 
Union,  at  Corinth,  Miss....    5,589 

New  Albany,  Ind 1,931 

Camp  Nelson,  Ky 2,866 

Mill  Springs,  Ky 707 

Lebanon,  Ky 864 


Cave  Hill,  Louisville,  Ky., 

Lexington,  Ky 994 

Danville,  Ky 355 


74,114 

Of  which  45,189  can  probably  be 
identified. 

DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSOURI. 

1.  At  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo.  8,601 

2.  At  Jefferson  City,  Mo 635 

3.  At  Springfield,  Mo 1,519 

4.  At  Fort  Scott,  Kansas 417 

5.  At  Fort  Leavenworth,  Ks..  702 

6.  At  Keokuk,  Iowa 627 

12,501 


GENERAL  SUMMARY. 

Reports  have  been  received  from  seventy-two  national  ceme- 
teries, and  from  three  hundred  and  twenty  local  and  post  ceme- 
teries. 

The  total  number  of  bodies  of  United  States  soldiers  reported 
throughout  the  United  States  is  316,233.  The  number  of  the 


326  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

same  which  can  probably  be  identified  is  175,764,  or  about 
five-ninths  of  the  whole  number.  The  number  of  the  same 
which  cannot  probably  be  identified  is  140,469,  or  about  four- 
ninths  of  the  whole  number.  The  number  of  bodies  which 
have  been  re-interred  up  to  date  of  report  is  257,250,  or  about 
four-fifths  of  the  whole  number.  The  number  of  bodies  which 
it  is  proposed  to  re-inter  hereafter  is  14,283 :  thus  the  total 
number  of  bodies  which  will  have  been  re-interred,  in  all,  is 
271,533,  or  about  five-sevenths  of  the  whole  number  of  bodies. 

The  estimated  aggregate  of  expenditure  made  by  the  Quarter- 
master's Department,  on  account  of  interments  and  other  ceme- 
terial  operations,  up  to  June  30,  1868,  is  $2,801,352.49.  The 
expenditures  required  for  this  purpose  next  fiscal  year  are  esti- 
mated at  $553,655.84.  The  aggregate  amount  of  expenditures, 
past  and  future,  will  thus  appear  to  be  $3,355,008.33. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

SKETCHES   BY   CHAPLAIN   MARSHALL THE   U.  S.    CHRIS- 
TIAN  COMMISSION. 

A  THEATRE  TURNED  INTO  A  EELIGIOUS  MEETING — MASSES  OP  SOL- 
DIERS IN  CAMP  DISTRIBUTION  —  THEIR  PROFANITY  —  BURLESQUE 
MILITARY  DRILL  —  THE  CHAPLAIN'S  RESOLUTION — A  SHOUT  UPON 
HIS  ENTRANCE  —  THEATRICAL  PREPARATIONS  —  THEY  BLACK  THEM- 
SELVES UP  —  THEY  SING  —  DEVOTION  RISES  —  GOD  HELPS  —  THE 
CHAPLAIN  READS,  SPEAKS,  PRAYS  —  THEY  SING  WITH  GREAT  POWER 
—  THEY  VISIT  THE  READING-ROOM  —  GREAT  GOOD  DONE  IN  A 
SHORT  TIME  —  "No  MORE  SWEARING" — SUNDAY  NIGHT  WITH  THE 
DYING  —  THE  DYING  SERGEANT  SENDS  FOR  THE  CHAPLAIN  —  THE 
WEEPING  FATHER  PRAYS  FOR  His  DYING  SON  —  THE  DYING  LIEU- 
TENANT DESIRES  TO  BE  PRAYED  FOR  —  THE  DYING  CAPTAIN'S  WARM 

GRASP — THE  FRIENDSHIP  OF  CHRIST  —  THE  U.  S.  CHRISTIAN  COM- 
MISSION—  ITS  ORIGIN  —  OFFICERS  —  FIRST  MEETING  —  ITS  SPIRIT 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  327 

AND  ZEAL  — HEAD-QUARTERS  — ITS  OBJECT  —  FIDELITY  OP  ITS 
DELEGATES  —  ITS  EFFICIENCY  AND  CONTRIBUTIONS  —  ITS  POPU- 
LARITY—  "  GOD  BLESS  THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION." 

A  THEATRE  TURNED  INTO  A  RELIGIOUS  MEETING.* 

THE  mass  of  soldiers  that  came  into  Camp  Distribution,  Satur- 
day night,  March  18,  1865,  left  for  the  front  on  the  follow- 
ing day.  On  Monday  night,  over  a  thousand  came  in.  They 
formed  into  a  large  ring  in  front  of  the  barracks,  and  witnessed 
burlesque  military  drills  by  some  of  the  muster.  It  was  dark,  and 
I  elbowed  through  till  I  got  to  the  circle ;  but  there  was  no  time 
during  the  evening  when  I  thought  that  I  could  successfully  turn 
the  amusement  into  a  religious  meeting.  When  I  heard  the  ob- 
scene swearing,  and  the  responsive  laugh  by  the  crowd  to  the  low 
wit  of  the  performers,  I  was  upon  the  point  several  times  of  rushing 
into  the  ring,  and  having  my  customary  say  to  the  boys  going  to 
the  front.  But  I  failed  to  see  the  time  when  I  might  be  success- 
ful, and  failure  would  be  worse  than  silence.  "Taps"  sounded, 
and  all  dispersed, —  the  soldiers  to  their  bunks,  and  I  went  into 
the  reading-room,  feeling  condemned  that  I  had  not  made  one 
effort  for  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  some  of  these  men  who  were 
on  their  way  to  the  battles  then  raging ;  and  so  I  resolved,  if  they 
remained  another  night,  that  sink  or  swim,  live  or  die,  succeed  or 
fail,  I  would  sound  the  note  of  warning  in  their  ears.  Some  of 
them  were  in  the  reading-room  next  day.  Night  came,  and  the 
soldiers  were  still  there.  It  rained  so  hard  that  no  performance 
could  be  held  outside ;  but  to  my  utter  surprise,  when  entering 
one  end  of  the  barracks,  the  other  end  was  fitted  up  in  a  most 
theatrical  style,  and  all  the  appointments  and  amusements  of  the 
stage  were  in  full  blast.  I  crowded  through  to  the  centre,  and 
found  a  tall  Irishman,  as  ringmaster  or  manager,  blacked  up 
like  a  negro,  and  several  soldiers  also  blacked  up  as  negro  men 
and  women,  with  banjos,  violins,  tambourines,  sticks,  <fec.. 
and  soldiers'  blankets  suspended  forming  the  screen  from  the 

*  This  nnd  the  following  two  articles  are  by  Rev.  James  Marshall,   lat» 
Chaplain  U.  S.  A. 


328  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

audience.  What  a  shout  went  up  as  my  coat,  Bible,  hymn-book, 
&c.,  became  visible;  but  with  my  hand  upon  the  shoulder  of  the 
manager,  and  a  word  to  him,  I  said,  "  I  have  just  a  word  to  say 
to  the  boys,  to-night.  They  are  going  to  the  front  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  though  sorry  to  disturb  their  amusement,  yet  I  might 
have  no  other  opportunity."  "  Certainly,  certainly,"  bowed  the 
gracious  manager,  while  I  was  upon  a  stool  for  the  purpose,  and 
with  a  word  and  a  raised  hand,  and  the  help  of  the  black  Irish 
manager,  I  had  a  hearing  in  a  moment.  Referring  to  the  fact 
that  we  were  all  actors  on  a  terrible  stage  at  the  present  time, 
and  that  many  there  might  fall  victims  of  the  enemy's  bullets 
before  forty-eight  hours,  as  the  battles  were  then  raging,  and 
pointing  them  to  the  dead-house  of  the  hospital,  within  sound  of 
our  voice,  in  which  were  lying  six  soldiers,  before  whom  that 
morning,  not  the  curtain  formed  by  their  blankets,  but  the  cur- 
tain of  death  had  fallen,  these  facts  confirmed  silence,  turned 
their  thoughts  into  a  new  channel,  and  joined  them  almost  un- 
consciously in  singing  a  verse  of  "  Alas  !  and  did  my  Saviour 
bleed  ?  "  which,  perhaps,  our  friends  at  home  were  then  singing 
at  prayer-meetings  in  our  behalf.  Christian  soldiers  had  confi- 
dence, raised  their  voices,  and  soon  the  full  tide  of  devotion 
seemed  flowing,  —  all  fixed  in  their  seats  and  hanging  to  their 
tiers  of  bunks,  one  above  the  other,  and  the  black  actors  were 
all  sitting  motionless  upon  the  floor,  and  gradually  slinking  back 
out  of  sight.  Then  was  the  time  when  the  Holy  Spirit  told  us 
what  to  say  and  how  to  say  it.  Reading  the  first  Psalm,  and 
classifying  my  hearers  thereby,  I  spoke  fully  an  hour,  first,  be- 
cause they  were  so  attentive,  and  again,  because  I  did  not  want 
to  leave  them  the  time  before  "taps"  to  get  back  into  their  vile 
habits.  I  spoke  plainly  of  their  amusements  of  the  night  before, 
and  hoped  they  would  give  way  to  me  to-night.  I  told  them 
that  the  vile  epithets  they  used  against  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
were  worse  than  they  would  tolerate  against  the  vilest  wretch  in 
society.  We  would  not  justify  such  opprobrium  upon  the  worst 
man  in  the  army.  He  would  be  unworthy  of  such  disgrace ;  and 
yet,  when  likely  to  be  borne  by  the  chances  of  war  into  His 
presence  in  a  few  hours  or  days,  how  could  we  conceive  of  our 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  329 

reception  into  His  presence.  While  He  was  pleading  with  the 
Father  to  forgive  us  our  vile  sins  on  His  account,  we  were  un- 
ceasingly fitting  ourselves  for  the  society  of  the  vile  and  devilish. 
And  yet  His  blood  is  sufficient  to  cleanse  us  from  all  these  sins, 
and  give  us  an  interest  in  eternal  life.  After  speaking  an  hour, 
they  were  ready  and  fitted  to  listen  to  prayer.  After  which,  and 
singing  again,  in  which  went  up  a  chorus  of  voices  that  sounded 
as  though  the  very  hosts  of  the  redeemed  were  rejoicing,  our  hearts 
were  tuned  to  the  songs  of  the  new  life  in  God.  After  cordially 
inviting  all  to  visit  our  reading-rooms  and  library  the  next  day, 
till  they  were  ordered  to  the  front,  and  also  to  freely  use  pens, 
ink,  paper,  and  envelopes  and  desks,  to  write  letters  to  their 
friends  in  the  North  that  God  in  his  providence  was  throwing 
means  of  grace  across  their  pathway  to  the  battles,  so  that  they 
might  be  without  excuse,  if  they  failed  to  recognize  the  goodness 
and  mercy  of  our  heavenly  Father. 

The  next  morning,  the  reading-room  was  thronged  till  they 
were  ordered  to  the  front.  They  left  solemnly,  and  with  a  dif- 
ferent spirit  from  that  with  which  they  entered.  One  man  said  to 
me  that  he  did  not  believe  that  one  man  ever  did  so  much  good 
in  so  short  a  time  before.  "  There  was  no  more  swearing  after 
you  left  the  barracks."  I  could  but  weep  when  the  poor  fellows 
were  marching  away,  hurled  along  by  the  providences  of  God 
like  insects  in  an  aerial  current,  God  only  knew  whither.  And 
thus,  day  after  day,  for  a  year  and  a  half,  in  which  some 
one  hundred  thousand  men  passed  through  that  camp,  was  God's 
truth  spoken  and  distributed,  leaving  the  results  to  the  great 
husbandman  that  garners  for  eternal  glory  the  harvests  flowing 
from  such  spiritual  sowing. 

SUNDAY  NIGHT  WITH  THE  DYING. 

One  Sunday  night  in  March,  1865,  I  was  conducting  a  meet- 
ing in  the  Bethesdian  Chapel,  which  was  crowded  with  soldiers. 
Several  ministers  were  present,  and  doing  the  speaking.  Among 
them  was  Dr.  Specs,  now  of  Iowa,  and  several  others  whose 
faces  I  see  in  memory,  but  whose  names  I  do  not  now  recall. 
At  that  time,  the  Hospital  was  full  of  sick  and  wounded.  I  had 


330  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

seen  them  all,  and  knew  the  worst  cases.  When  the  meeting 
was  half  out,  while  a  large  audience  was  standing  and  singing,  a 
soldier  entered,  and  came  in  haste  up  the  aisle,  and  told  me  Ser- 
geant Greenough  was  dying  in  the  seventh  ward,  and  his  father 
wanted  me  to  come  in  at  once.  I  handed  my  singing-book  to 
Chaplain  Billingsley,  who  was  present,  and  requested  him  to  lead 
the  meeting  to  its  close,  and  hastened  to  the  seventh  \vard,  where  I 
found  all  the  nurses  and  convalescents  standing  around  Green- 
ough's  bed.  The  ward  was  silent,  and  the  father  with  his  face 
buried  in  the  clothes  of  the  cot  of  his  son,  by  which  he  was 
kneeling,  and  the  son  in  the  agonies  of  death.  Such  expressions 
of  despair  and  fear  and  agony  as  appeared  on  his  face,  and  such 
contortions,  accompanied  with  moans  and  wails,  were  more  than 
the  weeping  father  or  the  strong  soldiers  could  endure.  He  was 
unconscious.  I  could  only  pray  for  all  present,  in  which  that 
whole  ward  joined  by  their  silence,  broken  only  by  their  sobs. 
Almost  immediately,  on  rising  from  my  knees,  some  one  told  me 
that  Lieutenant  Hammond  was  dying  in  the  second  ward  in 
the  main  building,  and  wanted  to  see  me.  Saying  a  few  words 
to  the  father,  and  promising  to  return  as  soon  as  possible,  I 
hastened  to  Lieutenant  Hammond,  found  him  conscious,  resting 
on  his  chest,  and  several  others  with  his  father  in  the  room.  He 
said  to  me  at  once,  "  Chaplain,  I  can't  live  long.  I  want  you  to 
pray  for  me."  After  a  few  words  of  comfort,  I  prayed  with  him. 
He  seemed  so  happy  and  resigned;  and  while  in  the  position  of 
bending  over  from  my  chair  talking  with  him,  my  back  toward 
the  door,  some  one,  whom  I  did  not  see,  whispered  in  my  ear : 
"  Captain  Cameron  wants  to  see  you.  He  is  dying."  In  a 
moment  I  went  to  another  ward,  found  Captain  Cameron  bol- 
stered up,  his  eyes  catching  mine  as  I  entered,  looking  so  plead- 
ingly and  imploringly.  He  was  surrounded  by  several  officers 
and  nurses.  But  he  was  too  far  gone  to  speak.  I  talked  to  him 
of  Christ's  love,  and  bid  him  lay  hold  of  that  mercy,  by  faith, 
which  saves  and  gives  peace  even  to  the  uttermost;  and  asked 
him  to  press  my  hand  if  he  would  like  me  to  pray  with  him  ;  and 
such  was  that  grasp,  that  my  own  emotions  almost  unfitted  me 
for  the  solemn  privilege,  when  I  realized  that  a  spirit  from  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  331 

eternal  world  was  grasping  for  mercy.  In  a  short  time,  Captain 
Cameron  passed  away,  also  Lieutenant  Hammond  and  Sergeant 
Greenough, —  all  by  midnight  were  gone  from  this  world  of  war 
and  sin,  to  receive  the  reward  promised  by  a  merciful  God,  ac- 
cording to  their  fidelity  to  the  claims  of  the  divine  Son. 

THE  FRIENDSHIP  OF  CHRIST. 

Two  soldiers,  whose  limbs  were  amputated,  and  whose  wounds 
were  gangrened,  knew  that  death  was  inevitable.  They  were 
lying  in  a  tent,  in  the  angle  of  a  large  ward  in  the  form  of  a 
cross,  only  a  few  yards  from  the  beach  at  Hampton  Roads. 
Having  left  the  large  ward  filled  with  wounded,  I  spent  a  few 
moments  in  conversation  and  prayer  with  the  two  sufferers. 
They  were  calm  and  resigned,  and  waiting  for  death,  which  was 
gradually  approaching  as  quietly  and  surely  as  the  darkness  fol- 
lows the  twilight  after  sunset.  Stepping  out  upon  the  banks  of 
the  water  in  that  starry  midnight  hour,  my  soul  was  thrilled 
with  peculiar  emotions,  as  I  listened  to  the  soughing  winds  as  they 
played  over  the  waters,  and  the  moaning  waves  as  they  broke 
against  the  beach,  mingling  their  sad  wails  with  the  groans  of 
the  wounded  and  dying,  and  the  great  relief  of  my  heart  was 
these  men  are  the  friends  of  Christ,  and,  better,  Christ  is  their 
friend,  and  nothing  can  separate  them.  His  triumph  over  death 
is  the  sure  pledge  they  shall  be  victors.  His  resurrection  is  the 
assurance  that  they  shall  enjoy  the  full  fruition  of  eternal  glory. 

"  Sweet  to  look  inward  and  attend 

The  whispers  of  his  lore  ; 
Sweet  to  look  upward   to  the  place 
Where  Jesus  pleads  above." 

/HE  UNITED  STATES  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION. 

Besides  the  labors  of  the  chaplain-,  the  work  of  the  U.  S. 
Christian  Commission  was  the  grandest  exhibition  of  Christian- 
ity in  the  war.  This  Commission  rose  as  if  by  magic.  No 
sooner  was  the  war  inaugurated,  and  the  men  in  the  field  began 
to  get  sick,  wound,  kill,  and  devour  one  another,  than  the  people 


332  CHEISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

at  home  began  to  provide  for  their  wants.  Organized,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1861,  in  New  York  City,  the  Commission  held  its  first 
meeting  immediately  after  in  Washington  City,  and  was  there 
fully  organized  by  choosing  G.  H.  Stuart,  Esq.,  chairman,  B.  F. 
Mannierre,  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  G.  H.  Stuart,  Bishop 
J.  S.  Janes,  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler,  C.  Demond,  and  B.  F.  Mannierre, 
an  executive  coinmitte. 

A  plan  of  operations  was  agreed  upon  at  once,  and,  having 
secured  the  approbation  and  commendation  of  the  President, 
Secretary  of  War,  and  the  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Army,  the 
great  work  was  commenced.  Moved,  it  would  seem,  by  the 
spirit  of  God,  and  with  a  warm  affection  for  the  soldier,  and  a 
strong  determination  to  quell  the  rebellion,  the  fathers,  mothers, 
sons,  and  daughters  rose  almost  en  masse  to  aid  this  noble  work. 
The  women  knit  socks,  made  clothes,  prepared  provisions,  deli- 
cacies, and  cordials  for  the  needy  soldiers,  and  the  men  conveyed 
them  to  them.  The  people  gave  money  by  the  million.  And  the 
glorious  work  went  on  with  a  zeal  and  success  unparalleled  in  the 
history  of  the  world.  The  head-quarters  of  the  Commission  were 
first  established  at  New  York ;  but  were  soon  removed  to  Phila- 
delphia, where,  through  the  liberality  of  its  honored  chairman,  it 
obtained  office-room,  room  for  storage,  the  service  of  clerks,  etc., 
free  of  charge.  With  the  main  central  office  at  Philadelphia, 
and  superintended  by  the  efficient  chairman,  the  affairs  of  the 
Commission  were  conducted  with  great  energy  and  strict  economy. 

It  was  the  glory  of  this  noble  institution,  that  its  gifts  and 
labors  were  gratuitous.  It  was  not  got  up  for  mere  pay;  no,  it 
rose  from  a  strong  desire  to  promote  the  spiritual  and  temporal 
welfare  of  the  soldier  and  sailor,  and  to  save  the  country.  The 
streams  of  benevolence,  and  the  disposition  to  help  the  soldier, 
seemed  to  rise  as  the  exigency  of  the  case  required.  The  faithful 
delegates,  watching  the  movements  of  the  armies,  were  always 
on  hand,  ready  to  take  off  the  wounded  as  soon  as  they  fell  upon 
the  gory  field.  The  writer  heard  Rev.  Dr.  Stockton,  heading  a 
delegation  of  delegates  direct  from  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
tell  President  Lincoln  that  they  had  given  the  first  cup  of  warm 
coffee  to  the  wounded  of  that  battle.  And  when  over  sixteen 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  333 

thousand  of  our  brave  heroes  fell  killed  and  wounded  at  the 
decisive  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  delegates  and  the  people  rushed 
in  by  thousands  to  help  take  care  of  them. 

The  efficiency  and  success  of  the  Commission  were  wonderful. 
Beginning  with  eighteen  members  in  1861,  before  the  close  of 
the  war  it  had  engaged  nearly  five  thousand  delegates  laboring 
for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  wants  of  the  men.  Talking 
Christ  to  them,  preaching  to  and  praying  for  and  with  them, 
was  the  principal  business  of  a  great  part  of  the  delegates.  In 
all,  they  preached  to  them  over  58,000  sermons,  and  held  with 
them  over  77,000  prayer-meetings,  and  gave  them  1,466,748 
Bibles  and  parts  of  Bibles,  18,000,000  religious  newspapers, 
1,370,000  hymn  -  books,  over  8,000,000  knapsack  -  books,  and 
39,000,000  pages  of  tracts,  and  wrote  for  them  92,000  letters. 
The  total  value  of  the  whole  amount  contributed  in  four  years 
was  $6,291,107  68.  With  zealous  hearts  these  noble  brethren 
"  went  about  doing  good,"  relieving  and  comforting  the  officer, 
soldier,  and  sailor  wherever  they  found  them. 

The  high  appreciation  of  the  Commission,  and  the  hearty 
reception  of  its  delegates  by  the  men,  was  evinced  by  their  mani- 
fest gratitude  and  the  soldier's  oft-repeated  prayer,  "  God  bless 
the  Christian  Commission  ! "  As  a  soldier  was  about  leaving  a 
delegate,  one  day,  to  go  to  his  regiment,  he  said  to  him,  "God 
bless  you,  my  dear  brother,  for  coming  to  work  for  the  soldiers ! 
You  have  been  the  means  of  saving  my  poor  soul ! "  The  high 
standing  of  the  Commission  among  the  leading  officials  of  the 
nation  was  shown  by  their  deep  interest  in  the  work,  and  their 
attending  its  annual  meetings. 

Abundantly  blessed  of  God,  its  name,  its  labors,  and  its  good 
fruits  will  go  down  to  future  generations,  and  do  good  through 
all  coming  time.  Eternity  only  will  reveal  the  good  it  has 
accomplished. 

The  U.  S.  Sanitary  Commission  did  a  similar,  and,  in  some  re- 
spects, a  much  more  extensive  work.  The  want  of  room  forbids 
us  to  speak  of  it  fully.  It  labored  more  for  the  physical  and  less 
for  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  soldier  and  sailor  than  the  Chris- 
tian Commission.  While  the  latter  spent  over  $6,000,000,  the 
former  spent  about  $15,000,000,  in  this  good  work. 


334  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

DISTINGUISHED  MEN  OP  THE  WAR. 
REV.  P.  D.  GUELEY.  D.D. 

His  Birth  —  Pious  Mother  —  Childhood  —  Desire  for  the  Ministry  —  His 
Education  —  Works  his  own  Way  through  Union  College  — His  Piety 
when  a  Boy  —  Studied  Theology  at  Princeton  —  His  Standing  in  his 
Class  —  Graduates  at  Princeton,  and  Receives  a  Call  to  Preach  in  In- 
dianapolis—  His  Marriage  —  His  Ordination  —  Successful  Labors — 
Accepts  a  Call  to  Dayton,  Ohio  —  Leaves  Dayton  and  goes  to  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.  —  Summoned  to  Lincoln's  Death-Bed  —  Impressive  Scene  — 
Prays  at  his  Death  —  Presides  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Clergy  of  the  District 
of  Columbia — Preaches  at  Lincoln's  Funeral  —  Dr.  Hall  reads  the 
Episcopal  Burial  Service  —  Bishop  Simpson's  Opening  Prayer  —  "  Cling 
to  Liberty  and  Right"  —  Composed  a  Hymn  for  the  Funeral  —  Bishop 
Simpson's  Sermon  at  the  Grave  —  Dr.  Gurley's  Christian  Character  — 
His  Ability  in  Prayer —  Successful  as  a  Minister  —  His  Gifts  —  He  Com- 
forts the  Afflicted  —  His  Popularity  —  His  Death  —  His  Rapturous 
Foretastes  of  Heaven  —  His  Dying  Requests  to  his  Family  and  Friends 
—  Last  Words  —  Dr.  Sunderland's  Remarks  at  the  Funeral  —  His  Peo- 
ple's Affection  for  him. 

OF  all  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel  who  officiated  in  the  late 
American  conflict,  none  performed  a  more  difficult  and 
important  part  than  Dr.  Gurley.  Although  not  formally  con- 
nected with  the  army,  yet,  preaching  in  the  National  capital,  his 
influence  was  deeply  felt  among  the  leading  men  of  the  nation, 
many  of  whom  were  regular  attendants  upon  his  ministrations. 
He  was  the  intimate  friend  and  pastor  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and 
officiated  at  his  death  and  funeral. 

Born  of  parents  of  limited  means  in  1816,  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  he  was  once  a  poor  country  boy.  Brought  up  by  a 
devotedly  pious  mother,  who  trained  him  for  God,  he  met  with 
a  bright  conversion  when  he  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age. 
Strong  in  faith,  and  possessing  an  ardent  desire  to  glorify  his 
Saviour,  he  soon  became  convinced  that  it  was  his  duty  to  con- 


P.  D.  GURLEY. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  335 

eecrate  himself  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry.  With  his 
heart  fixed  upon  this  important  work,  he  jet  out  to  obtain  an 
education,  and  worked  his  own  way  through  Union  College,  in 
July,  1837,  with  the  highest  honors  of  his  class,  and  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  N.  Jv  the  following  fall. 
Here  he  made  such  rapid  progress  that  he  was  soon  regarded  as 
the  foremost  man  in  his  class.  Constrained  by  a  Saviour's  love, 
even  while  at  college,  his  life  and  example  were  so  humble  and 
consistent,  that  one  of  the  wildest  and  roughest  of  his  class- 
mates said,  "If  all  Christians  were  like  Gurley,  I  would  give 
the  world  to  be  one."  Blessed  with  good  sense  and  sound  judg- 
ment, and  possessing  a  mild,  genial,  sociable,  and  jovial  disposi- 
tion, Mr.  Gurley  was  very  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Graduating  at  Princeton  Seminary  in  the  fall  of  1840,  full  of 
vigor  and  hope,  with  a  strong  desire  to  do  good,  his  oft-repeated 
prayer  was,  "  Oh,  if  I  only  knew  where  God  would  make  me 
most  successful  in  winning  souls  to  Christ,  there  I  would  go!" 
and  in  a  few  weeks  he  received  a  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Indianapolis,  Ind.  Having  married  Miss  Emma 
Brooks,  of  Parish ville,  N.  Y.,  October  7,  1840,  Mr.  Gurley 
and  his  lady  immediately  set  out  for  their  new  field  of  labor ; 
after  travelling  over  heavy  roads  in  coaches  and  big  wagons  some 
two  weeks,  they  reached  Indianapolis,  and  met  with  a  very  warm 
-reception  from  their  new  friends. 

Mr.  Gurley  was  ordained  and  installed  the  following  December; 
and  giving  himself  wholly  to  the  work,  although  he  had  the 
genius  and  ability  of  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher  to  compete  with, 
his  labors  were  abundantly  blessed,  and  his  church  being  crowded 
to  overflowing,  the  congregation  soon  built  a  new  house. 

After  nine  years  of  very  successful  labor  in  Indianapolis,  Rev. 
P.  D.  Gurley  accepted  a  call,  and  moved  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where, 
having  labored  four  years  with  signal  success,  he  accepted  a  call, 
and  removed  to  Washington  City  in  1854;  and  subsequently 
became  pastor  of  the  New  York  Avenue  Church,  where  the  Lord 
so  abundantly  blessed  his  labors  that  the  congregation  soon  built 
him  another  fine,  new  house  of  worship.  Preaching  to  presi- 
dents, heads  of  departments,  senators,  judges,  generals,  admirals, 


336  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  congressmen,  and  conversing  with  them  about  their  spiritual 
interests  as  occasion  offered,  his  church  grew  from  one  hundred 
and  sixty  members,  when  he  took  charge  of  it,  to  four  hundred 
and  fifty  at  his  death. 

As  an  example  of  his  popularity  as  a  preacher  with  distin- 
guished men,  President  Lincoln  said  to  a  friend  one  day,  "  I 
like  Dr.  Gurley.  He  don't  preach  politics :  I  get  enough  of 
that  through  the  week ;  and  when  I  go  to  church,  I  like  to  hear 
the  gospel." 

Amidst  all  this  religious  prosperity,  great  national  events  were 
crowding  upon  us.  Richmond  had  fallen,  General  Lee  had  just 
surrendered,  and  the  nation  was  all  a-glovv  with  the  highest  rejoic- 
ing over  the  glorious  victory  achieved.  But,  alas !  how  sudden 
the  change  !  Quick,  almost  as  a  flash  of  lightning,  the  highest 
rejoicing  was  turned  into  the  deepest  mourning. 

As  the  out-cropping  of  the  rebellion,  an  atrocious  assassin, 
reeking  with  cruel  revenge,  stealthily  inflicted  a  mortal  blow 
upon  President  Lincoln,  and  plunged  the  nation  into  the  most 
bitter  sorrow.  And  now  it  would  seem  as  though  God  had 
raised  up  and  expressly  prepared  Dr.  Gurley,  by  a  rich  experi- 
ence, for  the  solemn  and  important  work  before  him.  He  is  im- 
mediately summoned  to  the  bedside  of  the  dying  President.  How 
solemn  and  impressive  the  tragic  scene  !  It  is  most  heart-rend- 
ing, and  beggars  all  description  1  For  solemnity  and  awfulness, 
it  is  unparelleled  in  the  history  of  the  world.  The  weeping 
Cabinet  gaze  with  smitten  hearts.  The  anguished  wife  and  son 
wring  their  lacerated  hearts  with  grief.  The  nation  is  wrapped 
in  mourning  and  bathed  in  tears,  and  Dr.  Gurley  sits  weeping 
beside  her  unconscious,  dying  head.  Mute  in  the  agonies  of 
death,  the  martyred  hero  never  spoke  after  the  fatal  stroke. 

The  clock  strikes  seven  :  his  breath  grows  short;  and  in  twenty- 
two  minutes  more  his  noble  spirit  left  its  clay  tenement,  and 
returned  to  God  who  gave  it.  Dread  silence  reigns ;  and  after 
a  short  pause,  Secretary  Stanton,  turning  to  Dr.  Gurley,  said, 
"Doctor,  will  you  say  something?"  Whereupon,  with  a  mo- 
ment's reflection,  the  doctor,  addressing  himself  to  the  bereaved 
friends,  said, 

"LET  us  TALK  WITH  GOD;" 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  337 

and,  kneeling  down,  he  offered  up  a  most  tender  and  impressive 
prayer,  "  which  seemed  to  cheer  and  lighten  the  burden  of  every 
weeping  heart."  Mrs.  Lincoln  having  been  in  an  adjoining 
room  with  some  sympathizing  friends,  when  the  President  ex- 
pired, the  doctor  went  in,  and  prayed  again  with  them,  com- 
mending the  bereaved  family  to  God  and  the  riches  of  his  grace. 

Two  days  after  President's  Lincoln's  death,  Dr.  Gurley,  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  presided  over  a  very  large  meeting  of  the  clergy 
of  all  denominations  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  suddenly 
convened  to  express  their  views  and  feelings  touching  the  late 
national  bereavement,  and  their  good  wishes  and  sympathies  for 
the  newly-inaugurated  President.  Arrangements  having  been 
made,  and  the  time  fixed,  the  meeting,  en  masse,  called  to  see 
President  Johnson ;  and  on  their  approaching  him,  after  they 
were  severally  introduced,  Dr.  Gurley  made  a  very  appropriate, 
touching,  and  impressive  speech,  tendering  him  their  warmest 
sympathies,  and  promising  him  their  daily  prayers,  to  which  he 
appropriately  replied,  with  deep  emotions,  expressing,  in  strong 
terms,  his  thanks  to  them,  his  deep  sense  of  the  solemnity  of  his 
situation,  and  of  the  responsibility  resting  upon  him. 

At  the  funeral  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  Kev.  Dr.  Gurley  delivered, 
in  the  east  room  of  the  executive  mansion,  an  address,  which,  in 
the  language  of  Rev.  Dr.  W.  E.  Schenck,  of  Philadelphia,  "  for  ap- 
propriateness, pathos,  and  genuine  and  rich  scriptural  sentiments, 
has  few  equals  in  the  English  language." 

After  the  reading  of  portions  of  the  Episcopal  burial  service 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  H.  Hall,  and  the  offering  up  of  an  appro- 
priate, impressive  prayer  by  Bishop  Simpson,  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  Dr.  Gurley  began  his  sermon  in  the  following  impressive 
words :  — 

"  We  recognize  and  adore  the  sovereignty  of  God.  His  throne 
is  in  the  heavens,  and  his  kingdom  ruleth  over  all.  It  was  a 
cruel  hand,  the  dark  hand  of  the  assassin,  that  smote  our 
honored,  wise,  and  noble  President,  and  filled  the  land  with 
sorrow.  But  above  this  hand  there  is  another,  which  we  must 
see  and  acknowledge.  It  is  the  chastening  hand  of  a  wise  and 
faithful  God.  He  gives  us  the  bitter  cup ;  we  yield  to  the  behest, 
22 


338  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  drink  the  draught.  .  .  .  The  people  confided  in  the  late 
lamented  President  with  a  firm  and  loving  confidence,  which  no 
other  man  enjoyed  since  the  days  of  Washington.  He  deserved 
it  well,  and  deserved  it  all.  He  merited  it  by  his  character,  and 
by  his  acts,  and  by  the  whole  tenor,  and  tone,  and  spirit  of  his 
life.  He  was  wise,  simple,  and  sincere;  plain  and  honest;  truth- 
ful and  just;  benevolent  and  kind.  His  perceptions  were  quick 
and  clear,  his  judgment  was  calm  and  accurate,  his  purposes  were 
good  and  pure  beyond  a  question ;  always  and  everywhere  he 
aimed  to  be  right  and  to  do  right.  His  integrity  was  all-pervad- 
ing, all-controlling,  and  incorruptible.  He  gave  his  personal 
consideration  to  all  matters,  whether  great  or  small.  How  firmly 
and  well  he  occupied  his  position,  and  met  all  its  grave  demands 
in  seasons  of  trial  and  difficulty,  is  known  to  you  all,  to  the 
country,  and  to  the  world.  He  comprehended  all  the  enormity 
of  treason,  and  rose  to  the  full  dignity  of  the  occasion.  He  saw 
his  duty  as  chief  magistrate  of  a  great  and  imperilled  people, 
and  leaned  on  the  arm  of  Him  who  giveth  power  to  the  faint, 
and  who  increaseth  strength. 

"Never  shall  I  forget  the  emphasis  and  the  deep  emotion  with 
which  he  said,  in  this  room,  to  a  company  of  clergymen  and 
others  who  called  to  pay  their  respects,  in  the  darkest  days  of 
our  civil  conflict :  '  Gentlemen,  my  hope  of  success  in  this  great 
and  terrible  struggle  rests  on  that  immutable  foundation, —  the 
justice  and  goodness  of  God !  And  when  events  are  very  threat- 
ening, and  prospects  very  dark,  I  still  hope  that,  in  some  way 
which  man  cannot  see,  all  will  be  well  in  the  end,  because  our 
cause  is  just,  and  God  is  on  our  side.' 

"  Such  was  his  sublime  and  holy  faith,  and  it  was  an  anchor 
to  his  soul,  both  sure  and  steadfast.  It  made  him  firm  and 
strong;  it  emboldened  him  in  the  pathway  of  duty,  however 
rugged  and  perilous  it  might  be.  It  made  him  valiant  for  the 
right,  for  the  cause  of  God  and  humanity ;  and  it  held  him  in 
.steady,  patient,  and  unswerving  adherence  to  a  policy  of  ad- 
ministration which  he  thought,  and  which  we  all  now  think, 
both  God  and  humanity  required  him  to  adopt.  We  admired 
.and  loved  him,  on  many  accounts,  for  strong  and  various  reasons. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  339 

We  admired  his  childlike  simplicity,  his  freedom  from  guile  and 
deceit,  his  staunch  and  sterling  integrity,  his  kind  and  forgiving 
temper.  .  .  .  But  more  sublime  than  any  of  all  these,  more 
holy  and  influential,  more  beautiful,  and  strong,  and  sustaining, 
was  his  abiding  confidence  in  God  and  in  the  final  triumph  of 
truth  and  righteousness  through  him  and  for  his  sake.  This 
was  his  noblest  virtue,  his  grandest  principle, —  the  secret  alike 
of  his  strength,  his  patience,  and  his  success ;  and  this,  it  seems 
to  me,  after  being  near  him  steadily  and  with  him  often  for 
more  than  four  years,  is  the  principle  by  which,  more  than  by 
any  other,  t  He  being  dead,  yet  speak  eth.'  By  this  he  speaks  to 
his  successor  in  office,  and  charges  him  to  have  faith  in  God ;  by 
this  he  speaks  to  the  members  of  his  Cabinet,  to  all  who  occupy 
positions  of  influence  and  authority,  and  charges  all  to  have 
faith  in  God ;  by  this  he  speaks  to  this  great  people  as  they  sit 
in  sackcloth  to-day,  and  weep  for  him  with  a  bitter  wailing  and 
refuse  to  be  comforted,  and  he  charges  them  to  have  faith  in 
God ;  and  by  this  he  will  speak  through  the  ages  and  to  all 
rulers  and  peoples  in  every  land,  and  his  messages  to  them  will 
be,  '  Cling  to  liberty  and  right ;  battle  for  them,  bleed  for  them, 
die  for  them,  if  need  be,  and  have  confidence  in  God  ! '  Oh, 
that  the  voice  of  this  testimony  may  sink  down  into  our  hearts 
to-day,  and  every  day,  and  into  the  heart  of  the  nation,  and 
exert  its  appropriate  influence  upon  our  feelings,  our  faith,  our 
patience,  and  our  devotion  to  the  cause,  now  dearer  to  us  than 
ever  before,  because  consecrated  by  the  blood  of  its  most  con- 
spicuous defender,  its  wisest  and  most  fondly  trusted  friend." 

The  following  graphic  lines,  breathing  a  lofty  spirit  of  ardent 
patriotism,  were  composed  by  Dr.  Gurley  as  they  journeyed  from 
Washington  to  Springfield,  and  sung  at  Lincoln's  grave : 

"Rest,  noble  martyr,  rest  in  peace; 

Rest  with  the  true  and  brave 
Who,  like  thee,  fell  in  freedom's  cause, 
The  nation's  life  to  save ! 

"Thy  name  shall  live  while  time  endures; 

And  men  shall  say  of  thec, 
He  saved  his  country  from  its  foea, 
And  bade  the  slave  be  free. 


340  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"These  deeds  shall  be  thy  monument; 

Better  than  brass  or  stone: 
They  leave  thy  fame  in  glory's  light, 
Unrivalled  and  alone. 

"  This  consecrated  spot  shall  be 

To  freedom  ever  dear; 
And  Freedom's  sons  of  every  race 
Shall  weep  and  worship  here. 

"  0  God !  before  whom  we,  in  tears, 

Our  fallen  chief  deplore, 
Grant  that  the  cause  for  which  he  died 
May  live  forever  more." 

At  the  close  of  Bishop  Simpson's  sermon  at  the  grave,  Dr. 
Gurley  made  a  few  remarks,  offered  the  closing  prayer,  and,  after 
singing  the  above  hymn,  pronounced  the  benediction ;  and  the 
solemn  funeral  services  at  the  tomb  of  Lincoln  closed. 

"  When  we  come  to  speak  of  Dr.  Gurley  as  a  Christian,"  says 
Dr.  Schenck,  "  we  are  at  a  loss  to  find  terms  sufficiently  expres- 
sive." Crucified  to  the  world,  he  was  devoted,  earnest,  self- 
denying.  Living  nigh  to  God,  and  wholly  consecrated  to  his 
service,  he  was  powerful  and  prevalent  in  prayer.  Many  good 
judges  have  said  they  never  heard  his  equal  in  prayer.  A  dis- 
tinguished U.  S.  senator  said  that  the  prayer  offered  by  Dr. 
Gurley,  while  standing  by  the  remains  of  Abraham  Lincoln  in 
the  executive  mansion,  just  before  they  started  for  Springfield, 
made  a  deeper  impression  upon  him  than  anything  he  had  ever 
heard.  Laborious  and  faithful  as  a  pastor,  he  was  eminently 
successful.  With  a  burning  desire  for  the  salvation  of  souls, 
like  Jesus,  "  he  went  about  doing  good, "  "  always  abounding 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord."  Said  Dr.  Edwards,  who  preached 
his  funeral  sermon,  "  He  was  all  faithfulness  and  all  tenderness." 
Blessed  with  wisdom,  patience,  and  forbearance,  and  possessing 
a  large,  loving  heart,  glowing  with  compassion  and  filled  with 
"  unction  from  the  Holy  One,"  he  was  exceedingly  well  qualified 
to  administer  comfort  to  the  afflicted.  With  all  these  gifts  and 
graces,  Dr.  Gurley  "  was  a  burning  and  shining  light,"  and  a 
living  embodiment  of  the  doctrines  of  the  cross.  Highly  esteemed 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  341 

by  all,  in  the  language  of  ex-President  Pearce,  "  He  was  a  great 
and  good  man." 

HIS  DEATH. 

From  one  so  faithful  in  life,  we  could  scarcely  expect  any- 
thing but  triumph  and  glory  in  his  death.  The  hallowed  scene 
of  his  last  hours  was  most  touching  and  impressive.  Such  con- 
stancy, such  faith  and  Christian  heroism  as  he  exhibited,  and 
such  unutterable  joy  and  sweet  communion  with  God  as  he 
enjoyed,  is  very  seldom  realized  on  earth.  His  whole  life  after 
he  gave  up  to  die  seemed  more  like  heaven  than  earth.  At 
times  he  enjoyed  such  rapturous  foretastes  of  heaven  that,  like 
the  dying  Payson,  "  he  seemed  to  swim  in  a  flood  of  glory." 
In  the  language  of  Dr.  Schenck  (who  preached  his  memorial 
sermon),  "  His  last  words  were  full  of  Jesus  and  redemption. 
With  his  expiring  breath  he  gave  glory  to  God ;  the  impenitent 
were  entreated  to  come  to  Jesus ;  his  family  and  friends  were  all 
commended  to  the  Saviour's  care,  and  his  fellow-ministers,  who 
approached  him,  were  exhorted  to  go  on  preaching  Christ."  To 
Rev.  Dr.  Byron  Sunderland,  who  visited  him  shortly  before  his 
death,  he  said,  "That  Jesus,  which  we  have  preached  so  long  to 
others,  is  with  me  now."  To  an  aged  relative,  Rev.  R.  R.  Gurley^ 
he  said,  "  My  dear  cousin,  I  am  going  home  before  you.  We 
have  a  long  line  of  pious  ancestry  in  heaven ;  soon  you  will  join 
me  there,  and  then  we  will  talk  it  all  over.  God  bless  you  and 
yours ;  and  now,"  (raising  his  emaciated  hands),  he  exclaimed, 
"Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Amen  and  amen ! "  To  his  son-in-law,  Major  E.,  he  said,  while 
pressing  his  face  to  his  own,  "  My  dear  son,  I  love  you  as  though 
you  were  my  own  son.  Come  out  from  the  world,  and  cast  in 
your  lot  with  the  people  of  God."  To  his  eldest  daughter,  Mrs. 
Major  E.,  pressing  her  to  his  breast,  he  said,  "My  dear  daughter, 
spend  that  sweet  voice  in  singing  for  Jesus.  Throw  away  all 
other  music,  and  sing,  only  the  songs  of  Zion."  To  his  three 
sons,  who  stood  near,  he  said,  "  My  dear  sons,  I  have  tried  to 
train  you  for  God  ;  now  I  must  leave  you  with  him.  '  Live  nigh 
unto  him."'  To  his  youngest,  a  little  daughter  of  nine,  he 
said,  " Little  darling,  live  for  Jesus"  To  his  beloved  wife  he 


342  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAK. 

said,  "  My  dear,  dear  wife,  you  have  ray  heart  next  to  Jesus, 
my  whole  heart ;  you  always  have  had.  I  have  many  prayers 
lodged  in  heaven  for  you  against  the  time  of  trial.  Jesus  will  be 
your  friend.  I  am  only  going  a  little  before  you.  I  shall  be  there 
waiting  for  you."  When  asked,  toward  the  close,  "  Have  you 
peace  ?  Is  Jesus  with  you  now  ? "  he  answered,  "  Yes,  oh,  yes 
all  is  peace!"  His  peace  flowed  like  a  river;  and,  said  Dr. 
Edwards,  in  his  funeral  sermon,  "  He  was  strong  in  faith,  like 
Abraham ;  patient,  like  Job ;  exulting,  like  Habakkuk."  When 
asked,  at  the  very  last,  "  Are  you  resting  in  Jesus  ?  "  he  answered, 
"  Yes,  oh,  yes,  a  thousand  times,  yes ! "  And,  with  his  mind 
clear  and  bright  to  the  last,  thus  he  lingered  until  the  morning 
of  September  30,  1868,  when  "the  golden  bowl  was  broken," 
and  his  happy,  blood-washed  soul  went  home  to  glory,  crowned 
with  a  martyr's  crown.  Said  Rev.  Dr.  Sunderland,  in  his  closing 
remarks  at  the  funeral,  "  It  is  natural  for  us  to  sorrow.  It  has 
been  ever  thus,  when  the  great  and  good  depart.  When  the 
Reformer  (Ecolampadius  died  at  Basle,  the  whole  city  was 
plunged  into  mourning.  Zwingle",  of  Zurich,  had  already  fallen 
in  battle.  (  And  now/  says  the  historian,  '  there  was  a  great 
void  and  a  great  sorrow  in  the  Church  of  Christ.  Dissensions 
vanished  before  these  two  graves,  and  nothing  could  be  seen  but 
tears.  .  .  .  Luther  himself  was  moved ;  and,  many  years  after- 
ward, he  said  to  Bullinger,  "  Their  death  filled  me  with  such 
intense  sorrow  that  I  was  near  dying  myself." '  So  does  it  seem 
after  its  kind  here  to-day.  Oh,  stricken  family !  oh,  smitten 
flock !  oh,  afflicted  city !  another  severe  blow  has  fallen  from 
God's  hand,  not  to  make  us  doubt  his  faithfulness,  but  to 
bring  us,  we  know  it,  nigher  to  him,  and  so  nigher  to  each 
other ! " 

In  the  church,  at  his  funeral,  besides  many  other  strong  ex- 
pressions of  love  and  sorrow,  they  had  placed  against  the  wall 
of  the  alcove,  in  the  rear  of  the  pulpit,  in  large  evergreen  letters, 
the  inscription,  "  BEHOLD,  HOW  WE  LOVED  HIM  ! " 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  343 


OLIVER  O.  HOWARD. 

Hia  Birth  —  Boyhood  —  Early  Religious  Training  —  A  Christian  Gentle- 
man —  He  Graduates  at  Bowdoin  College ;  also  at  West  Point  Acad- 
emy in  1854  — His  Patriotism  — Appointed  Colonel  of  Third  Regi- 
ment Maine  Volunteers  —  Is  Promoted  for  Bravery  —  Joins  Army  of  the 
Potomac  —  Wounded  at  Battle  of  Fair  Oaks  —  Had  his  Arm  Ampu- 
tated —  Returns  Home  the  Next  Day  —  Lectures  the  People,  and  Urges 
Them  to  Come  to  the  Rescue  of  the  Country  —  He  Returned  in  Time 
for  the  Battles  of  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  and  Chancel- 
lorsville  —  His  Position  at  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  —  His  Calmness  in 
Battle  —  Is  Temperate  —  Gen.  Sherman's  High  Opinion  of  him  — His 
Warm  Attachment  for  Capt.  Griffin  —  He  Prays  with  him,  and  Bids 
him  a  Final  Farewell  —  "It  is  the  Last  Time"  —  Appointed  Commis- 
sioner of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  —  Howard  University  a  Monument 
of  his  Benevolent  Efforts. 

IN  exhibiting  the  individual  power  of  "  Christianity  in  the 
War,"  we  know  of  no  brighter  example  in  the  army  than 
Gen.  Howard.  Brought  up  in  New  England,  and  thoroughly 
instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible  and  Puritanic  orthodoxy, 
he  has  ever  been  from  his  boyhood  an  ornament  to  the  Church. 
Rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  he  carries  his  religion  about  with 
him  wherever  he  goes.  With  the  law  of  the  Lord  written  upon 
his  heart,  he  lives  it  out  in  his  life.  An  embodiment  of  the 
Christian  gentleman  and  of  the  heroic  soldier,  ever  earnest  and 
faithful,  "  he  is  a  tower  of  strength,"  and  well  deserves  the  title, 
"  The  Havelock  of  America."  Even  when  he  entered  the  army, 
with  all  its  alluring  temptations,  he  exhibited  the  same  inflexible 
spirit  of  steadfastness  and  self-denial. 

Born,  November  8,  1830,  in  Leeds,  Me.,  Oliver  Otis  Howard 
was  made  an  orphan  by  the  death  of  his  father  when  he  was 
about  ten  years  old.  Being  taken  then  under  the  care  of  his 
uncle,  John  Otis,  he  went  through  Bowdoin  College,  and  gradu- 
ated at  West  Point  Academy  in  1854.  Without  fully  tracing 
his  military  career,  we  find  him,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion,  Assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics  at  West  Point. 
Burning  with  patriotic  ardor,  and  desiring  to  draw  his  sword  in 
quelling  the  rebellion,  he  sought  the  command  of  a  regiment  of 


344  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

volunteers  from  his  own  State  at  the  beginning  of  the  war.  This 
request  being  refused  by  the  War  Department,  he  resigned  his 
commission  in  the  regular  army,  and  was  soon  after  appointed, 
by  the  Governor  of  Maine,  Colonel  of  the  3d  Regiment  of  Maine 
Vol.,  in  May,  1861.  For  bravery  and  worthy  conduct  at  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General. 

Having  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  following 
December,  he  was  raised  to  the  command  of  the  llth  Army  Corps 
in  the  fall  of  1863,  and  shared  in  the  glory  of  all  the  principal 
battles  of  that  glorious  old  army.  Having  been  twice  wounded 
in  the  right  arm  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  he  had  his  arm  cut 
off;  yet,  with  heroic  devotion  to  his  country,  he  started  home  the 
next  day,  and  though  weak  from  the  loss  of  blood  and  from  the 
severe  shock  of  the  wound,  he  spent  two  months  of  his  disability 
for  actual  service  in  the  army  in  lecturing  the  people  of  his 
native  State,  urging  them  to  go  forward  and  fight  for  the  salva- 
tion of  the  country.  He  returned,  however,  in  time  for  the 
bloody  battles  of  the  second  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg,  and  Chancellorsville,  where  he  rendered  important  service, 
and  fought  with  undaunted  courage. 

At  the  decisive  battle  of  Gettysburg,  it  is  said,  Howard's 
troops  held  the  key  of  the  situation  ;  yet,  brave  and  courageous, 
this  heroic  general  stood  undismayed  amid  all  the  shock  and 
terror  of  that  tremendous  fight.  A  soldier,  who  was  with  him 
during  that  awful  conflict,  in  speaking  of  his  calmness,  said, 
"  Gen.  Howard  stood  there  as  if  nothing  at  all  was  the  matter. 
He  never  takes  stimulants  either.  Most  of  the  officers  do,  but 
he  never  does.  He  was  so  calm,  because  he  was  a  Christian." 
Col.  Bowman  says,  "Gen.  Howard  is  careless  of  exposing  his 
person  in  battle  to  an  extent  that  would  be  attributable  to  rash- 
ness or  fatalism,  if  it  were  not  known  to  spring  from  religion." 
In  all  his  campaigns  with  Sherman  he  was  noted  for  his  prompt- 
ness and  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  for  his  calmness 
and  fearlessness  in  battle.  With  all  these  noble  qualities,  Gen. 
Howard  soon  won  the  profound  respect  of  Gen.  Sherman ;  and, 
in  speaking  of  him  at  the  end  of  one  of  his  campaigns,  in  his 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB.  345 

report  to  Gen.  Grant,  he  said,  "In  Gen.  Howard,  throughout, 
I  found  a  polished  and  Christian  gentleman,  exhibiting  the 
highest  and  most  chivalrous  traits  of  the  soldier." 

During  the  trials  and  associations  of  army  life,  a  very  warm 
personal  attachment  was  formed  between  Gen.  Howard  and 
Capt.  Griffin,  a  member  of  the  general's  staff.  Capt.  Griffin 
was  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg ;  and  when 
orders  came  to  pursue  the  retreating  foe,  it  was  a  melting  scene 
to  see  the  kind-hearted  general  hasten  to  bid  his  highly-esteemed 
friend  a  last  farewell.  The  time  is  short,  and  the  interview  must 
be  brief.  They  had  long  fought  together  in  defending  their 
country;  they  had  long  shared  in  the  hardships,  glories,  and 
honors  of  war ;  but  now  they  must  part  to  meet  no  more  on 
earth.  "  It  is  the  last  time."  How  solemn  and  impressive  the 
scene !  With  a  few  words  of  tender  sympathy,  the  general  reads 
a  few  verses  from  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  John,  and,  bowing 
his  knees,  pours  out  his  soul  to  God  in  commending  his  dying 
friend  to  the  mercy  and  compassion  of  an^almighty  Saviour ;  and 
rising  from  his  bended  knees,  grasps  him  in  a  long,  tender,  affec- 
tionate, weeping  embrace.  And  now,  with  a  warm  shake  of  the 
hands  and  a  hearty  "  God  bless  you ! "  the  general  bids  the 
dying  captain  a  final  farewell.  Thus  they  parted  —  one  to  go  to 
fight  the  battles  of  the  Lord  here  on  earth,  the  other  to  swell 
the  ranks  of  the  redeemed  in  heaven. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  Gen.  Howard,  having  won  the  full 
confidence  of  the  nation,  was  appointed  Commissioner  of  the 
Freedmen's  Bureau,  a  position  for  which  he  was  eminently 
qualified.  And  having  entered  upon  the  arduous  duties  of  this 
important  and  responsible  position  with  characteristic  zeal,  his 
unremitting  and  self-denying  efforts  to  help  and  elevate  the  poor 
freedmen  have  been  eminently  successful.  Supplied  by  the  libe- 
ral hand  of  the  Government,  he  has  fed  the  hungry  and  clothed 
the  naked  of  millions  of  God's  poor.  The  firm  basis  he  has  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  for  their  education,  and  the  great  start  he 
has  given  them  in  becoming  self-sustaining,  will  prove  a  great 
and  lasting  blessing  to  this  rising  race. 

Howard  University  itself  will  prove  a  standing  monument  of 


346  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

this  good  man's  efforts  to  educate  and  elevate  the  down-trodden 
freedinen.  Eternity  only  will  reveal  the  good  he  has  done;  and 
for  his  successful  labors,  the  general  deserves  the  nation's  thanks 
and  the  freedmen's  warmest  gratitude. 


BISHOP  SIMPSON. 

Hia  Nativity  —  His  Education  —  Enters  the  Ministry — His  Popularity — 
Elected  President  of  Asbury  University  —  Elected  Editor  of  "  Western 
Christian  Advocate"  —  His  Success  —  Elected  Bishop  —  His  Success 
and  Administration  —  His  Patriotism  and  Zeal  in  Quelling  the  Rebel- 
lion—  Lincoln's  Trusted  Friend  —  His  Prayer  at  Lincoln's  Funeral  — 
His  Preaching  Abilities  —  His  Oration  at  Lincoln's  Grave  — Powers  of 
Discrimination  —  Delineates  Lincoln's  Characteristics,  and  Points  out 
the  Secret  of  his  Power  — His  Style  of  Preaching  —  He  Preaches  Christ 
—  What  he  Covets  —  His  Tour  in  the  Eocky  Mountains  —  Intimate 
with  the  Presidents  of  the  United  States  —  Appointed  by  President 

^  Grant  to  Visit  San  Domingo  —  His  Present  Standing,  Influence,  and 
Power  —  His  Touching  Peroration  at  Lincoln's  Tomb. 

WHILE  the  learned  Dr.  McClintock,  when  living,  stood  as 
the  prince  of  theologians,  Bishop  Simpson,  to-day,  stands 
as  the  prince  of  preachers  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
And  that  is  a  very  high  attainment.  To  be  a  complete  orator  is 
the  height  of  human  perfection.  To  be  able,  with  great  success, 
to  persuade  men  to  renounce  the  world  and  give  their  hearts  to 
God,  is  the  highest  and  most  honorable  position  this  world 
affords.  It  is  honorable  to  occupy  presidential  chairs,  to  sit  upon 
dazzling  thrones,  to  command  armies  and  win  victories  —  these 
are  all  honorable ;  but  for  real  grandeur  and  glory  there  is  no  posi- 
tion so  honorable  and  useful  as  the  faithful  and  successful  ambas- 
sador of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  And  the  life  and  character  of 
every  one  who  has  been  eminently  successful  in  this  glorious  work 
is  well  worthy  of  close  investigation. 

Rev.  Matthew  Simpson,  D.  D.,  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  Ohio. 
When  and  where  he  was  born,  after  much  inquiry,  we  have 
failed  to  ascertain.  But  it  don't  matter.  It  is  enough  for  our 
present  purpose  to  know  that  he  has  been  born,  acted  his  part  in 


MATTHEW   SIMPSON. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAE.  347 

the  affairs  of  the  church  and  the  world,  and  labored  hard  in 
quelling  the  Rebellion.  He  received  his  education  at  Alleghany 
College,  Meadville,  Pa.,  and  it  is  said  he  afterward  studied 
medicine. 

Having  experienced  a  change  of  heart  when  quite  young,  and 
being  sensible  of  the  great  things  God  had  done  for  him,  and  the 
consequent  obligations  resting  upon  him,  after  going  through  a 
theological  course,  he  entered  the  ministry  under  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  in  1834.  Possessing  fine  preaching  abilities,  and 
being  devoted  to  the  work,  he  improved  so  rapidly  that  he  soon 
l>ecame  known  as  one  of  the  most  impressive  and  eloquent 
preachers  of  the  denomination.  As  his  vigorous  mind  became 
more  fully  developed,  his  popularity  and  usefulness  increased; 
and  being  a  man  of  energy  and  ripe  scholarship,  he  was  elected 
President  of  Asbury  University,  Greencastle,  Indiana,  in  1839; 
and  he  discharged  the  duties  of  that  important  position  with  so 
much  ability,  success,  and  satisfaction,  that  his  reputation  and 
influence,  both  as  a  teacher  and  as  a  pulpit  orator,  increased  so 
fast  that  he  was  soon  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
State. 

Improving  in  intellectual  power  and  usefulness,  and  growing 
more  and  more  in  favor  with  the  people,  he  was  elected,  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1848,  to  the  responsible  position  of  editor  of  the 
"  Western  Christian  Advocate,"  one  of  the  most  important  and 
influential  official  papers  of  the  church.  To  fill  this  influential 
position  well  required  rare  qualifications  and  a  peculiar  tact. 
Yet  Mr.  Simpson,  conscious  of  the  fact  that,  while  occupying 
the  editorial  chair,  he  was  speaking  to  many  thousands  every 
week,  and  making  every  one  of  them  either  better  or  worse  by 
every  issue  of  his  paper,  with  his  well -cultivated  mind  and 
thorough  knowledge  of  human  nature  and  of  the  affairs  of  the 
church,  made  a  very  successful  editor.  But  with  all  his  pop- 
ularity and  success  as  an  editor,  there  was  another  step  for  Mr. 
Simpson  to  take.  The  church  still  kept  railing  him,  "Go  up 
higher  ;  "  and  thus  advancing  step  by  step,  more  and  more  de- 
veloping the  great  faculties  of  his  head  and  heart,  increasing  his 
usefulness  and  power,  until  in  1852  the  General  Conference 


348  CHKISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

elected  him  to  the  important  office  of  bishop  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States.  Blessed  with  a  vigor- 
ous mind,  an  indomitable  will,  and  a  persevering  heart,  Bishop 
Simpson  possesses  fine  qualifications  for  an  executive  officer. 
And  being  zealous  in  the  Master's  cause,  he  discharges  the 
duties  of  his  office  with  becoming  gravity  and  general  satis- 
faction. Being  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  polity,  the  work, 
and  the  wants  of  the  church,  he  makes  one  of  the  best  and  most 
efficient  superintendents  of  the  connection.  With  a  wide  sphere 
of  labor,  and  having  the  care  of  so  many  churches,  like  other 
bishops  he  travels  about  from  place  to  place,  holding  conferences, 
administering  discipline,  dedicating  churches,  preaching,  and  or- 
daining men  to  preach  the  gospel.  Progressive  in  his  views, 
and  understanding  all  the  wants  and  interests  of  the  church, 
Bishop  Simpson's  administration  has  been  marked  for  the  breadth 
and  liberality  of  his  opinions  on  all  questions  pertaining  to  the 
polity  of  the  church.  Being  strongly  in  favor  of  lay  represen- 
tation, he  has  been  identified  with  this  great  movement  from  the 
beginning.  Through  his  persevering  labors,  aided  by  the  co- 
operation of  other  leading  men,  their  efforts  have  at  last  been 
crowned  with  success,  and  the  great  Methodist  Church  of  the 
land  is  now  blessed  with  a  lay  representation. 

Full  of  patriotic  ardor,  Bishop  Simpson  has  always  stood  firm 
for  the  flag  of  his  country.  He  looks  upon  man's  duty  to  his 
country  as  being  second  only  to  his  duty  to  his  Maker ;  or,  as  he 
has  (we  believe)  graphically  expressed  it :  "  NAIL  THE  FLAG 
JUST  BELOW  THE  CROSS;"  or,  as  the  Saviour  says,  "Kender 
unto  Caesar  the  thing  that  are  Caesar's,  and  unto  God  the  things 
that  are  God's."  In  importance,  the  church  is  the  centre  of  the 
universe.  Around  it  everything  else  revolves.  For  the  church, 
grass  grows  and  water  flows :  for  the  church,  the  sun  shines  by  day 
and  the  moon  and  stars  by  night.  God  the  Father  "  gave  his  Son 
to  be  head  over  all  things  to  the  church."  Hence  the  impor- 
tance of  faithfully  doing  your  duty  to  your  country,  because  a 
good,  well-administered  government  tends  so  much  to  advance 
the  prosperity  of  the  church.  Says  "  Harper's  "Weekly,"  "When 
the  civil  war  broke  out,  Bishop  Simpson  exerted  himself  to  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  349 

utmost  in  promoting  the  work  of  suppressing  the  Rebellion.  He 
was  the  trusted  friend  of  the  lamented  Lincoln ;  "  and  by  request 
he  made  the  opening  prayer  at  his  funeral  at  the  White  House 
in  Washington.  This  prayer  is  remarkable  for  its  being  very 
comprehensive,  fervent,  and  appropriate.  The  earnest  suppliant, 
having  implored  the  Divine  blessing  to  rest  upon  Lincoln's 
bereaved  widow,  upon  his  sons,  upon  his  successor  in  office, 
prayed,  "  Lord,  let  thy  blessing  rest  upon  our  country.  Grant 
unto  us  all  a  fixed  and  strong  determination  never  to  cease  our 
efforts  until  our  glorious  Union  shall  be  fully  re-established." 
"  Around  the  remains  of  our  beloved  President  may  we  covenant 
together,  by  every  possible  means,  to  give  ourselves  to  our 
country's  service  until  every  vestige  of  this  Rebellion  shall  have 
been  wiped  out,  and  until  slavery,  its  cause,  shall  be  forever  eradi- 
cated. Preserve  us,  we  pray  Thee,  from  all  complications  with 
foreign  nations.  Give  us  hearts  to  act  justly  towards  all  nations, 
and  grant  unto  them  hearts  to  act  justly  towards  us,  that  uni- 
versal peace  and  happiness  may  fill  our  earth.  We  rejoice  then 
in  this  inflicting  dispensation  Thou  hast  given,  as  an  additional 
evidence  of  the  strength  of  our  nation.  We  bless  Thee  that  no 
tumult  has  arisen,  and  in  peace  and  harmony  our  government 
moves  onward,  and  that  Thou  hast  shown  that  our  Republican 
Government  is  the  strongest  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  In  this 
solemn  presence  may  we  feel  that  we,  too,  are  immortal.  May 
the  sense  of  our  responsibility  to  God  rest  upon  us ;  may  we 
repent  of  every  sin ;  and  may  we  consecrate  anew  unto  Thee  all 
the  time  and  all  the  talents  which  Thou  hast  given  us  ;  tmd  may 
we  so  fulfil  our  allotted  duties  that,  finally,  we  may  have  a  resting- 
place  with  the  good  and  wise  and  great  who  now  surround  that 
glorious  throne." 

As  a  preacher,  Bishop  Simpson  has  but  few  equals.  Being 
an  intimate  friend  of  President  Lincoln,  he  was  selected  to  de- 
liver the  closing  oration  at  his  funeral  at  Springfield,  Illinois. 
And  his  comprehensive  grasp  of  the  subject  of  his  sermon  on 
that  occasion,  and  the  masterly  manner  in  which  he  treated 
the  great  topics  therein  discussed,  denote  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  aifairs  of  the  world  and  of  the  human  heart,  and  an. 


350  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

ability  to  delineate  and  analyze  human  character  seldom  equalled. 
It  is  often  very  difficult  to  ascertain  exactly  wherein  a  great 
man's  strength  lies.  Sometimes  it  is  found  in  one  faculty,  and 
sometimes  in  another.  And  here  the  skilful  orator,  exploring 
the  heart  and  scanning  the  mind  of  the  martyred  hero,  points 
out  with  wonderful  precision  wherein  his  great  strength  lay. 
And  where  was  it  ?  was  it  chiefly  in  his  head  $  No.  With  all  his 
mighty  intellectual  grasp  and  strong  powers  of  quick  perception 
and  close  discrimination,  his  great  moral  strength  laid  more  in  the 
goodness  of  his  heart  than  in  the  brilliancy  of  his  mind.  "And," 
said  Bishop  Simpson,  in  his  funeral  oration,  "  if  you  ask  rne  on 
what  mental  characteristics  his  greatness  rested,  I  answer,  on  a 
quick  and  ready  perception  of  facts ;  on  a  memory  unusually 
tenacious  and  retentive ;  and  on  a  logical  turn  of  mind,  which 
followed  sternly  and  unwaveringly  every  link  in  the  chain  of 
thought  on  every  subject  which  he  was  called  to  investigate.  .  .  . 
Who  that  has  read  his  messages  fails  to  perceive  the  directness 
and  simplicity  of  his  style?  And  this  very  trait,  which  was 
scoffed  at  and  descried  by  opponents,  is  now  recognized  as  one 
of  the  strong  points  of  that  mighty  mind  which  so  powerfully 
influenced  the  destinies  of  the  nation,  and  which,  shall  for  ages  to 
come  influence  the  destiny  of  humanity. 

"  It  was  not,  however,  chiefly  by  his  mental  faculties  that  he 
gained  such  control  over  mankind.  His  moral  power  gave  hirn 
pre-eminence.  The  convictions  of  men  that  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  an  honest  man  led  them  to  yield  to  his  guidance.  As  has 
been  said  of  Cobden,  whom  he  greatly  resembled,  he  made  all 
men  feel  a  sense  of  himself — a  recognition  of  individuality,  a 
self-relying  power.  They  saw  in  him  a  man  whom  they  believed 
would  do  what  is  right  regardless  of  consequences.  It  was  this 
moral  feeling  that  gave  him  the  greatest  hold  on  the  people,  and 
made  his  utterances  almost  oracular.  When  the  nation  was 
angered  by  the  perfidy  of  foreign  nations  in  allowing  privateers 
to  be  fitted  out,  he  uttered  the  significant  expression,  '  One  war 
at  a  time/  and  it  stilled  the  national  heart.  There  are  instants 
which  seem  to  contain  germs  which  shall  develop  and  bloom 
forever.  Such  a  moment  came  in  the  tide  of  our  own  land,  when 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAK.  351 

a  question  must  be  settled  which  affected  all  the  earth.  The 
contest  was  for  human  freedom.  Not  for  this  republic  merely, 
not  for  the  Union  simply,  but  to  decide  whether  the  people, 
as  a  people,  in  their  entire  majesty,  were  destined  to  be  the  gov- 
ernment, or  whether  they  were  to  be  subject  to  tyrants  or  aristo- 
crats, or  to  class  of  any  kind.  This  is  the  great  question  for 
which  we  have  been  fighting,  and  its  decision  is  at  hand,  and 
the  result  of  the  contest  will  affect  ages  to  come.  If  successful, 
republics  will  spread,  in  spite  of  monarchs,  all  over  this  earth." 
[Exclamations  of  "  Amen,"  «  Thank  God."] 

With  a  warm,  gushing  heart,  glowing  with  tenderness  and 
sympathy,  Bishop  Simpson's  manner  partakes  somewhat  of  the 
Whitefield  style.  Of  the  three  great  French  pulpit  orators,  it  is 
said  that  Bossuet  addressed  the  imagination,  Massillon,  the  heart, 
and  Bourdaloue,  the  understanding.  And  while  Dr.  Simpson 
sometimes  soars  aloft  in  the  field  of  imagination,  yet  generally  he 
addresses  himself  more  to  the  understanding  and  the  heart.  Full 
of  vigor  and  life,  his  fine,  charming  voice  and  his  plain,  vivid, 
fluent  style  of  presenting  the  truth  give  him  a  wonderful  power 
over  his  hearers ;  and,  rising  with  the  importance  of  his  subject, 
with  all  his  majesty  of  thought,  vehemence,  and  tenderness  of 
manner,  and  irresistible  strength  of  argument,  he  carries  away 
his  audience  with  a  force  almost  irresistible. 

Bishop  Simpson  preaches  Christ.  His  sermons,  though  graphic 
in  description,  touching  and  impressive,  abound  with  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Cross.  And  in  grasping  for  the  soul,  he  often  says 
some  very  comprehensive  and  striking  things.  In  his  recent 
sermon  before  the  New  England  Conference,  he  said,  "  If  there 
is  anything  I  covet  in  this  world,  it  is  the  power  of  making  man 
feel  that  he  stands  before  the  throne  of  God.  I  would  covet  the 
power  to  take  my  audience  to  the  Croas,  to  let  them  see  Jesus  in 
all  his  mercy  and  in  all  his  love."  When  the  church  is  pressed 
for  funds,  if  they  want  to  raise  a  large  collection,  when  Bishop 
Simpson  is  present  they  always  put  him  up  to  preach ;  and,  by 
the  power  of  his  touching  eloquence  and  earnest  appeals  in  press- 
ing the  wants  of  the  church  and  the  claims  of  the  gospel,  he 
never  fails  to  secure  a  very  large  collection.  During  the  late 


352  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

.Rebellion  the  Bishop  made  a  tour  to  Denver  and  the  Gold  Re- 
gions in  the  Rocky  Mountains  of  Colorado,  preaching  at  every 
opportunity  to  lawyers,  politicians,  miners,  and  gamblers;  and  he 
always  had  very  large,  attentive  congregations. 

Sometimes,  in  times  of  deep  distress  and  great  peril,  when  the 
destiny  of  the  nation  seems  to  hang  upon  the  decision  of  the  hour, 
and  when  the  path  of  duty  seems  dark,  and  you  know  not  what 
to  do,  it  is  good  to  have  a  wise,  trusty  friend  to  consult  with. 
Such  a  friend  was  Bishop  Simpson  to  President  Lincoln. 

But  this  eminent  divine  not  only  enjoyed  the  abiding  confi- 
dence of  President  Lincoln,  which  he  might  have  won  during 
the  anxieties,  reverses,  and  successes  of  the  war,  but  he  also 
enjoys  the  friendship  and  full  confidence  of  President  Grant, 
who  recently  appointed  him  as  one  of  the  commissioners  to  visit 
San  Domingo,  to  consult  with  others  upon  the  propriety  of 
annexing  that  fertile  island  to  the  United  States.  In  point  of 
standing,  the  Bishop  still  seems  to  be  increasing  in  usefulness 
and  rising  in  influence  and  power. 

We  close  this  brief,  imperfect  sketch  with  the  Bishop's  graphic 
peroration  at  the  tomb  of  Lincoln.  Having  quoted  a  touching 
sentence  of  Lincoln,  with  deep  and  tender  emotion  he  exclaimed: 
"  Chieftain,  farewell !  The  nation  mourns  thee.  Mothers  shall 
teach  thy  name  to  their  lisping  children.  The  youth  of  our 
land  shall  emulate  thy  virtues.  Statesmen  shall  study  thy 
record,  and  learn  lessons  of  wisdom.  Mute  though  thy  lips  be, 
yet  they  still  speak.  Hushed  is  thy  voice,  but  its  echoes  of 
liberty  are  ringing  through  the  world,  and  the  sons  of  bondage 
listen  with  joy.  Prisoned  thou  art  in  death,  and  yet  thou  art 
marching  abroad,  and  chains  and  manacles  are  bursting  at  thy 
touch.  Thou  didst  fall  not  for  thyself.  The  assassin  had  no 
hate  for  thee.  Our  hearts  were  aimed  at,  our  national  life  was 
sought.  We  crown  thee  as  our  martyr,  and  humanity  enthrones 
thee  as  her  triumphant  son.  Hero,  martyr,  friend,  farewell!  " 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  353 


ADMIRAL  FARRAGUT. 

A  new  Era  in  Naval  Affairs  —  Fight  between  the  Monitor  and  Merrimac  — 
Progress  in  Destroying  and  Saving  Man  —  Satan's  Whetting  his  Sword 
should  Arouse  the  Church  —  Farragut's  Birth — Enters  the  U.S.  Navy  — 
His  First  and  Second  Engagements  —  Heroic  Courage  —  Wounded  — 
Highly  Esteemed  by  his  Commander  —  His  Heroism  Sleeps  —  Sails  all 
over  the  World  —  Promoted  —  His  Loyalty  — Went  North  — Com- 
mands a  Naval  Expedition  vs.  New  Orleans  —  His  Large  Fleet  —  Cap- 
tures New  Orleans  —  Daring  Feats  in  Capturing  Vicksburg — His 
Stratagem  and  Heroism  in  Capturing  Mobile  —  Lashed  Himself  to 
the  Rigging  of  his  Ship  in  Battle  —  Calls  upon  God  for  Help  and 
Direction  —  Severe  Fight  with  a  Rebel  Ironclad  —  He  Whipped  her  — 
She  Surrenders  —  Promoted  Again  —  His  Habits  —  Decorating  his 
Grave  — His  Prayer  in  the  Battle  of  Mobile  Bay  —  "  Go  Forward"  — 
His  Religious  Life — Testimony  of  Lieut.  Montgomery. 

THE  late  war  established  a  new  era  in  naval  affairs.  Hitherto 
the  fighting  at  sea  had  been  done  on  wooden  vessels.  But 
now,  in  the  navy,  "  old  things  pass  away,  and  all  things  become 
new."  Fresh  light  having  dawned  upon  the  inventive  genius 
of  Captain  Ericsson,  he  begins  to  construct  war  vessels  upon  a 
new  and  improved  plan,  and  the  feeble  old  wooden  hulks  give 
way  to  the  introduction  of  the  destructive  ironclads.  And 
although  with  those  inferior  crafts  distinguished  victories  had 
been  won,  yet  for  speedy  destruction  of  life,  for  naval  skill 
and  naval  glory,  those  achieved  under  the  new  era  are  far 
greater.  The  unprecedented,  fierce,  and  bloody  fight  between 
the  Monitor  and  Merrimac,  off  Hampton  Roads,  Va.,  astonished 
the  world.  It  put  an  end  to  the  use  of  wooden  vessels  of  war, 
and  very  materially  changed  the  naval  and  military  strength  of 
the  nations  of  the  earth.  And  notwithstanding  the  late  great 
progress  made  in  Christian  civilization  and  in  the  arts  and 
sciences,  the  introduction  of  ironclads  into  the  navy,  and  the 
needle-gun  and  the  mitrailleuse  in  the  army,  indicate  a  progress 
m  the  art  of  war  hitherto  unknown.  And  when  we  view  the 
awful  carnage  in  the  recent  civil  war  in  France,  and  look  upon 
the  sixty  thousand  uncoifined  dead  lying  unburied  in  the  bloody 
streets  of  Paris,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  the  recent  progress 
23 


354  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

made  in  the  art  of  destroying  man  is  much  greater  than  any 
made  to  save  him.  And  as  Satan  is  whetting  his  sword  and 
devising  new  means  for  man's  destruction,  most  assuredly  the 
Church,  under  God,  should  search  out  and  devise  new  measures 
for  his  salvation. 

In  the  galaxy' of  naval  glory,  no  star  shines  brighter  than  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  His  father  was  a  naval  officer  before  him, 
and  fought  under  Commodore  Patterson  a  long  while  ago,  at  the 
battle  of  New  Orleans. 

David  Glascoe  Farragut  was  born  at  Campbell's  Station,  in 
East  Tennessee,  in  1801.  He  joined  the  United  States  Navy 
when  a  boy  of  only  nine  years  of  age,  and  served  a  severe  ap- 
prenticeship under  Commodore  Porter.  His  first  naval  engage- 
ment was  under  Porter  in  the  Essex,  with  the  English  sloop-of- 
war  Alert,  on  the  13th  day  of  April,  1812.  Eager  for  action, 
as  soon  as  the  Alert  saw  the  Essex,  she  ran  violently  upon  her, 
and  with  much  loud  cheering,  opened  her  entire  broadside  upon 
her  with  great  fury.  The  brave  commodore,  undismayed,  and 
thirsting  for  victory,  quickly  replied  with  such  terrible  effect 
that  the  sinking  Alert  was  knocked  into  drowning  helplessness, 
and  surrendered  in  eight  minutes  after  commencing  the  fight. 

Farragut's  next  engagement  was  in  the  destructive  fight  in 
Valparaiso  harbor  with  the  British  Captain  Hillyar.  In  this 
noted  combat  the  young  midshipman  displayed  great  courage. 
The  British  vessel,  with  a  force  double  that  of  the  Essex,  by  a 
gross  violation  of  the  laws  of  neutrality  succeeded  in  destroying 
the  Essex;  yet  Farragut,  then  but  twelve  years  old,  although  he 
received  a  wound  in  the  fight,  stood  firmly  to  his  post  to  the  very 
last.  In  this  brave  act  of  the  young  hero,  you  see  in  embryo  the 
heroic  admiral.  With  his  deck  strewn  with  the  killed  and 
wounded,  the  humane  Porter,  when  all  hope  was  lost,  surrendered 
his  bloody  wreck  to  save  himself  and  the  helpless  wounded  from 
a  watery  grave.  With  the  other  officers  of  the  ship,  Farragut 
was  sent  home  on  parole,  accompanied  with  words  of  high  com- 
mendation from  Commodore  Porter,  who  in  his  report  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  expressed  his  sincere  regret  that  the  noble 
boy  was  too  young  for  promotion.  It  is  more  than  probable  that 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  355 

no  other  boy  in  the  world,  so  young,  ever  endured  with  so  much 
courage  and  firmness  a  fight  so  terrible  and  bloody.  And  such 
worthy  and  noble  conduct  in  the  young  midshipman  so  com- 
pletely won  the  esteem  of  Commodore  Porter  that  he  at  once  pro- 
vided for  his  military  and  general  education.  But  Farragut 
preferred  the  navy  to  the  army,  and  as  soon  as  the  war  was  over 
he  went  back  to  sea  again. 

With  these  bright  displays  of  bravery,  the  heroism  of  Far- 
ragut, for  the  want  of  opportunities  to  develop  it,  was  suffered 
to  lie  almost  dormant  for  over  forty  years.  For  some  forty-five 
years  he  sailed  about,  all  over  the  world,  from  place  to  place, 
commanding  at  different  harbors,  slowly  advancing  in  rank  by 
seniority,  until,  in  1825,  he  was  made  lieutenant.  In  1841  he 
became  commander,  and  in  1851  he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of 
captain. 

When  the  rebellion  burst  upon  the  world,  he  had  served  forty- 
eight  years  in  the  United  States  Navy,  yet  with  his  great  genius  as  a 
naval  officer  almost  entirely  undeveloped,  and  altogether  unknown 
to  the  world.  Having  always  lived  in  the  South,  it  was  expected 
he  would  secede  and  go  with  the  South  in  their  rebellion  and  trea- 
son ;  but  having  sailed  so  long  under  the  flag  of  his  country,  he  had 
learned  to  respect  and  honor  it  too  much  to  rebel  and  fight  against 
it.  He  was  living  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  at  the  time,  and  as  soon  as  he 
publicly  declared  his  principles,  and  made  known  his  determina- 
tion to  stand  by  his  country,  he  was  met  with  heavy  frowns  and 
severe  threats.  The  hot-headed  rebels  told  him  it  might  be  unsafe 
for  him  to  utter,  and  remain  in  the  South  with,  such  sentiments. 
"  Very  well,"  he  said,  "  I  will  go  where  I  can  live  with  such 
sentiments ;  "  and  making  ready,  he  left  Norfolk  on  the  night  of 
the  18th  of  April,  1861,  the  very  night  before  the  rebels  fired 
the  navy  yard  of  that  place. 

He  sailed  for  the  Hudson  River,  New  York,  and  stopped  for 
a  short  time  near  Tarry  town,  where,  being  a  perfect  stranger,  he 
was  looked  upon  for  a  while  with  a  good  deal  of  suspicion. 

As  the  rebellion  spread  itself,  the  demand  for  naval  strength 
increased.  Captain  Farragut  received  his  first  appointment  Jan- 
uary 20,  1862,  to  command  the  naval  part  of  an  expedition 


356  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

against  New  Orleans.  After  a  tedious  preparation,  with  a  fleet 
of  forty-six  sail,  the  largest  ever  known  in  America  at  that  time, 
Farragut  sailed  in  his  splendid  flagship  Hartford,  from  Hamp- 
ton Roads,  February  3, 1862,  and  reached  Ship  Island,  near  New 
Orleans,  by  the  20th  of  the  following  March. 

The  mortar  vessels  were  commanded  by  Commodore  D.  D. 
Porter.  After  a  short  consultation  with  General  Butler,  it  was 
concluded  to  advance.  Farragut  gave  the  command,  and  the 
vast  fleet  sailed  up  to  the  forts,  and  on  the  18th  of  April  com- 
menced a  furious  bombardment,  which  lasted  six  days.  Finding 
the  reduction  of  the  forts  rather  a  tedious  job,  Farragut  concluded 
to  pass  them;  and,  dividing  his  squadron  into  two  columns, 
after  getting  under  way,  they  passed  the  forts  under  a  most  furi- 
ous fire,  in  an  hour  and  ten  minutes.  This  was  a  very  danger- 
ous feat.  Of  all  injuries  received,  the  Brooklyn  fared  the  worst, 
which  lost  eight  men  killed  and  twenty  wounded.  The  enemy's 
steam-rams  ran  a  fire-raft  aboard  the  Hartford,  and  drove  her 
ashore;  but  the  skilful  commodore  soon  drew  her  off,  but  not 
without  being  severely  injured.  The  forts  having  been  thus 
passed,  and  the  enemy's  fleet  sunk  or  captured,  the  Union  fleet 
entered  the  harbor  of  New  Orleans  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
the  city  surrendered  to  Commodore  Farragut,  April  26,  1862. 

After  things  became  a  little  settled,  General  Butler  went  in 
and  took  possession,  and  established  his  headquarters  in  the  St. 
Charles  Hotel,  which  had  been  closed  for  some  time.  He  soon 
established  martial  law,  instituted  and  maintained  a  government, 
though  somewhat  severe,  admirably  adapted  to  the  city  of  New 
Orleans.  After  issuing  his  proclamation,  he  made  a  speech  to  the 
people,  and  gave  them  to  understand,  with  characteristic  firm- 
ness, what  he  meant  to  do. 

Baton  Rouge,  Natchez,  and  other  points  above,  yielded  with- 
out making  any  opposition,  at  the  approach  of  the  Union  forces  ; 
and  Commodore  Farragut,  with  his  vast  fleet  reinforced,  received 
orders  to  open  the  Mississippi  River  from  one  end  to  the  other. 

But  this  fiery  trial  and  brilliant  victory  was  only  a  prelude 
and  a  foretaste  of  what  was  to  follow. 

Vicksburg  was  the  next  stronghold  to  be  taken ;  and  on  the 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  357 

26th  of  June  the  batteries  around  it  were  bombarded  all  day 
with  but  little  effect.  On  the  27th,  at  the  command  of  Commo- 
dore Porter,  the  town  was  shelled.  Meanwhile  the  daring  Far- 
ragut  was  lying  five  miles  below,  and  while  Porter  was  going  on 
with  his  bombarding,  he  succeeded  in  passing  the  well-fortified 
city  in  the  face  of  its  blazing  batteries,  with  eight  vessels  of  his  fleet, 
with  a  loss  of  only  four  killed  and  twenty  wounded.  Having 
got  above  the  town,  he  was  met  by  Commodore  Davis,  descend- 
ing from  Memphis,  when  Farragut  determined  to  open  the  river 
by  cutting  a  canal  through  a  tongue  of  land,  and  leave  Vicksburg 
far  to  one  side,  entirely  out  of  the  way ;  but  the  falling  of  the 
river  thwarted  his  design,  and  compelled  him  to  sail  down  the 
river  for  deeper  water ;  and  the  capture  of  the  place  at  that  time 
was  abandoned. 

The  attack  on  Vicksburg  was  resumed  the  following  autumn. 
Meanwhile,  the  Federal  arms  had  been  crowned  with  such 
brilliant  victories  and  successes  in  the  earlier  part  of  1862,  that, 
for  a  while,  some  entertained  strong  hopes  of  a  speedy  termina- 
tion of  the  war.  The  Confederates  had  been  driven  out  of 
Missouri,  Western  and  Middle  Tennessee  had  been  occupied  by 
Union  forces,  and  with  the  capture  of  New  Orleans  (excepting 
Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson)  the  passage  of  the  Mississippi 
was  now  clear.  And  Vicksburg,  as  it  was  strongly  defended 
by  nature,  and  much  stronger  by  rebel  forces,  being  the  prin- 
cipal obstruction,  an  attack  was  made  upon  it  first.  An  ex- 
pedition, under  General  Banks  and  Farragut,  was  to  ascend  the 
river  from  New  Orleans  to  meet  one-  under  General  Sherman 
and  Commodore  Porter  from  Memphis,  while  General  Grant 
was  to  operate  in  the  rear  of  the  city.  With  this  formidable 
combination,  they  hoped  to  take  the  place.  But  it  failed. 
And  after  this  and  other  schemes  had  failed,  General  Grant 
determined  upon  the  very  dangerous  plan  of  running  a  por- 
tion of  the  fleet  past  Vicksburg  to  make  an  attack  below.  And 
to  aid  in  this,  the  fearless  Farragut,  inspiring  his  brave  men 
with  fresh  courage  by  facing  danger' and  death,  attempted  to 
pass  Port  Hudson  with  its  impregnable  fortifications  and  four 


358  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

miles  of  blazing  batteries,  with  seven  of  his  vessels  —  the  Hart- 
ford, Albatross,  Richmond,  Kineo,  Monongahela,  Genesee,  and 
the  Mississippi.  With  eyes  flashing  with  courageous  fire,  the 
heroic  admiral  gives  the  command,  and  the  daring  fleet,  falling 
into  line,  sails  on  through  vast  volleys  of  balls  and  bursting  shells 
spreading  death  and  destruction  among  the  struggling  ships  and 
sailors.  The  awful  firing  was  so  severe  and  destructive  that  only 
two  of  the  entire  fleet,  the  Hartford  and  the  Albatross,  succeeded 
in  passing.  The  Richmond  was  so  severely  damaged  that  she  re- 
treated. The  Mississippi  was  destroyed.  About  eighty  persons 
of  the  fleet  were  killed  in  the  hazardous  undertaking.  This  was 
on  March  14, 1863.  The  Federal  army  now  being  below  Vicks- 
burg,  and  supported  by  the  formidable  fleet,  the  capture  of  the 
long  sought-for  city  looked  far  less  difficult.  Although  the 
rebels  poured  in  their  forces  by  tens  of  thousands  to  defend  it, 
and  although  it  was  girded  with  seven  hills  by  the  God  of  na- 
ture, yet  ere  the  setting  of  the  bloody  sun  of  July  3,  1863,  it  fell 
into  the  Federal  hands,  and  surrendered  to  General  Grant. 

But  Farragut's  greatest  fight  and  grandest  naval  victory  re- 
mains to  be  told.  With  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  and  the 
complete  opening  of  the  Mississippi,  his  next  great  undertaking 
was  the  capture  of  Mobile.  And,  in  order  to  understand  the 
greatness  of  that  victory,  it  will  be  necessary  to  know  something 
about  the  strength  of  the  fortifications  to  be  overcome.  Besides 
three  lines  of  strong  earthworks  extending  five  or  six  miles  in 
rear  of  the  city,  and  five  thirty-two  rifled  batteries  strewn  along 
the  bay  with  immense  obstructions  of  piles  stuck  in  the  channel, 
there  played  in  the  waters  about  the  city  the  impregnable  iron- 
clad ram  Tennessee,  and  four  large  wooden  gunboats  besides. 
Yet  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines  at  the  mouth  of  Mobile  Bay  con- 
stituted the  principal  obstruction  in  taking  Mobile  by  sea.  But 
before  the  unterrified  admiral  this  mighty  force  was  soon  made 
to  give  way.  Early  in  July,  Farragut,  with  his  fleet,  accompa- 
nied by  a  land  force  under  Generals  Canby  and  Granger,  arrived 
in  Mobile  Bay.  After  a  short  consultation  between  the  admiral 
and  the  generals,  it  was  determined  to  invest  Fort  Gaines  first. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  359 

For  this  purpose,  the  fleet  covered  the  landing  of  a  force  of  some 
four  thousand  men  under  General  Granger.  Meanwhile,  feeling 
their  danger,  the  enemy  kept  pouring  in  troops  and  supplies  into 
Fort  Gaincs  to  strengthen  its  defence.  Early  on  August  4th, 
the  Federal  fleet,  twenty-six  sail,  including  t\vo  double  and  one 
single  turreted  monitor,  and  one  ironclad,  commenced  closing 
in  their  lines  east  of  Fort  Morgan,  as  though  they  were  concen- 
trating their  forces  on  Fort  Gaines.  But  this  was  only  a  feigned 
preparatory  step,  and  by  forty  minutes  past  five  on  the  morning 
of  August  5th,  the  mighty  fleet,  two  abreast  and  lashed  together, 
set  sail.  Grand  and  buoyant  they  steamed  fearlessly  up  the  main 
channel  of  the  bay,  and  by  forty-seven  minutes  past  six  the  ironclad 
Tecumseh  fired  the  first  shot.  In  a  few  minutes  the  fort  opened 
upon  the  fleet,  and  immediately  the  action  became  general.  The 
fort  played  heavily  on  the  Brooklyn  and  Hartford,  and  the  fight 
began  to  wax  very  hot.  Buoyant  with  hope  and  courage,  thirst- 
ing for  victory,  the  heroic  admiral  lashed  himself  to  the  mast  of 
his  ship  the  better  to  give  command,  and  there,  standing  above 
the  smoke  and  dust  of  battle,  watched  with  eagle  eye  the  pro- 
gress of  the  mighty  conflict.  Fighting  with  perfect  desperation, 
the  famous  ironclad  Tecumseh,  shattered  by  a  torpedo,  careened 
and  sank- — nearly  all  on  board  sinking  with  her.  Undis- 
mayed at  this  heavy  loss,  the  persistent  admiral,  calling  upon 
God  for  help  and  direction,  at  once  peremptorily  ordered  up  the 
wooden  boats  to  fill  up  the  loss.  The  flagship  Hartford  then  led 
the  fleet,  and,  urged  on  by  their  brave  hero,  they  steamed  stead- 
ily forward,  maintaining  a  constant  fire,  and  passed  the  destruc- 
tive forts  a  little  before  eight  o'clock. 

But  though  past,  the  fight  was  not  ended.  The  rebel  gun- 
boats Morgan,  Gaines,  and  Selma,  which  had  kept  up  such  an 
annoying  fire,  were  then  attacked,  and  one  of  them  was  captured 
and  another  destroyed.  Then  followed  a  most  terrible  fight  with 
the  Tennessee,  which  at  once  made  for  the  flagship  Hartford; 
whereupon  the  monitors  were  immediately  ordered  to  attack  her. 
The  Mononyahela,  Commander  Strong,  struck  her  first ;  but  re- 
ceived far  more  injury  than  she  inflicted.  The  rebel  monster 
then  received  heavy  blows  from  the  Lackawanna  and  the  Hart- 


360  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

ford  and  the  Manhattan,  but  with  little  effect,  except  a  fifteen- 
inch  shot  from  the  latter  which  broke  through  her  iron  plating. 
Determined  upon  her  destruction,  the  Hartford  fearlessly  made 
at  her  again  with  full  speed,  and,  with  the  combined  efforts  of 
their  united  forces,  she  was  now  reduced  to  a  desperate  condition. 
With  her  steering  chains  gone  and  smoke-stack  shot  away,  she 
was  compelled  to  resort  to  her  relieving  tackles.  And  increasing 
their  firing  on  and  on,  they  waged  the  furious  fight  until,  seeing 
the  Ossipee  was  about  to  strike  her  a  tremendous  blow,  she  raised 
the  white  flag  and  surrendered  about  ten  o'clock.  During  this 
severe  fight  with  the  Tennessee  and  the  rebel  gunboats,  the  fleet 
lost  more  men  than  it  did  in  passing  Fort  Morgan.  Admiral 
Buchanan,  commanding  the  Tennessee,  was  wounded  in  the  leg, 
and  two  or  three  of  his  men  were  killed,  and  five  or  six  wounded. 
Commodore  Johnston,  formerly  of  the  United  States  Navy,  came 
on  board  the  flagship  to  surrender  his  and  Admiral  Buchanan's 
sword  to  the  victorious  Farragut.  Thus  ended  one  of  the  fiercest 
and  most  destructive  naval  engagements  on  record.  Thus,  too, 
for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  world,  was  a  naval  officer 
known  to  risk  the  danger  of  lashing  himself  to  the  rigging  of  his 
ship  on  entering  an  engagement. 

In  this  grand  adventure  it  had  been  thought,  as  the  ship 
channel  was  so  very  near  to  Fort  Morgan,  that  it  would  be  impos- 
sible for  any  ships  to  pass.  But  by  the  discerning  Farragut  this 
seeming  insurmountable  difficulty  was  very  soon  overcome,  and 
even  turned  to  an  advantage  to  him  and  a  disadvantage  to  them. 
Lashing  his  vessels  together,  two  and  two,  he  diminished  the 
exposure,  and  secured  the  safety  and  integrity  of  the  fleet.  This 
was  a  most  masterly  contrivance.  On  the  7th  of  August,  Forts 
Powel  and  Gaines  surrendered,  and,  with  another  small  skirmish, 
on  the  23d  Fort  Morgan  surrendered  also.  With  the  surrender 
of  Forts  Gaines  and  Morgan  eighty-six  guns  and  fifteen  hundred 
men  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Union  forces. 

In  honor  of  his  distinguished  services  in  these  splendid  victo- 
ries, Commodore  Farragut  was,  in  July,  1863,  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  rear-admiral,  and  in  August  of  the  following  year  he 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  361 

was  raised  to  the  rank  of  vice-admiral,  which  grade  was  created 
by  Congress  especially  for  him. 

Being  remarkably  neat,  clean,  and  temperate  in  his  habits,  Ad- 
miral Farragut  enjoyed  very  good,  vigorous  health.  He  would 
not  even  so  much  as  smoke  a  cigar.  And  the  distinguished  favors 
and  the  strong  testimonials  of  high  regard  he  has  received,  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  show  in  the  most  decided  terms  how  highly 
his  valuable  services  are  appreciated  by  the  people.  Mourned  by 
the  nation,  his  full  history  would  fill  volumes.  Enshrined  in 
the  heart,  embalmed  in  the  memory,  for  his  heroic,  noble  deeds, 
he  will  live  in  the  affections  of  the  people  forever. 

We  clip  the  following  from  a  New  York  paper  of  May  30, 
1871,  which  shows  how  fresh  his  memory  still  exists  in  the 
minds  of  the  people :  "  Admiral  Farragut's  grave  at  Wood  Lawn 
was  decorated  at  sunrise  this  morning;  the  ceremonies  being  per- 
formed by  a  battalion  of  marines  under  Colonel  Brooke,  with  a  full 
band  from  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard,  the  Farragut  Lodge  of 
Good  Templars,  and  the  Wadsworth  Post  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  both  of  Brooklyn.  General  S.  Catlin,  of  Williams- 
burg,  delivered  an  eloquent  address  commemorative  of  the  life 
and  services  of  the  deceased  admiral,  after  which  the  grave  was 
profusely  covered  with  cut  and  growing  flowers.  Admiral  M. 
Smith,  commanding  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard,  was  also  present 
at  the  ceremonies."  A  large  portion  of  the  crowd  were  ladies. 


FARRAGUT   AT    PRAYER. 

"Man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity."  Deeply  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  want,  and  conscious  of  his  own  weakness,  in  times 
of  great  emergency,  when  all  human  aid  seems  to  fail,  it  is  natural 
for  man  to  go  to  God  for  help.  Sinking  Peter,  hanging  upon  the 
verge  of  a  watery  grave,  cried,  "  Lord,  save  me  I  "  The  ship- 
wrecked disciples,  tossed  upon  the  ocean's  raging  billows,  feeling 
their  awful  danger  and  helplessness,  fled  to  Jesus,  and  cried, 
"  Lord,  save,  or  we  perish!" 

Farragut,  in  the  depths  of  a  great  emergency,  and  feeling  the 
salvation  of  his  country  hanging  as  it  were  upon  his  own  success, 


362  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

lashed  to  the  rigging  of  his  ball-riven  and  mast-shattered  ship, 
with  cannon-balls  flying  thick  about  him,  and  with  his  fleet  halt- 
ing and  sinking  around  him,  when  hesitating  what  to  do,  fled  to 
God  for  help  and  direction,  and  cried,  "  0  God,  my  Maker,  lead 
me  to  do  this  day,  what  is  right  and  best  for  my  country!  "  *  "  In 
answer  to  this  prayer,  the  admiral  said  he  heard  a  voice  from 
heaven,  which  seemed  to  say,  in  tones  of  thunder,  '  Go  forward! 
Go  FORWARD  ! ' >:<  He  went  forward ;  and  for  deeds  of  daring 
courage,  high  naval  skill,  and  unyielding  perseverance,  achieved 
a  victory,  for  grandeur  and  glory  far  exceeding  anything  ever 
accomplished  in  the  world ! 

When  we  come  to  speak  more  particularly  of  the  great  admi- 
ral's religious  life,  our  data  is  more  scanty.  Absorbed  with  his 
grand  naval  achievements,  our  historian  has  failed  fully  to  record 
his  religious  history.  But  the  admiral  has  always  sustained  a 
good  reputation  as  a  faithful,  consistent  Christian.  He  belonged 
to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church ;  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Montgo- 
mery, who  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  says  another,  "  alluded, 
in  very  strong  and  feeling  terms,  to  his  wonderful  character  as  a 
Christian  hero."  With  his  faith  and  religious  emotions  highly 
wrought  up  in  contemplating  the  melting  scenes  of  Calvary,  Dr. 
Montgomery  says  "  he  always  partook  of  the  holy  communion 
with  great  religious  fervor."  The  purity  of  his  life,  his  heroic 
devotion  to  his  country,  his  great  love  of  truth,  and  his  unbounded 
kindness,  together  with  his  earnest  prayer  to  God,  in  passing  the 
belching  batteries  at  Fort  Morgan,  speak  much  in  favor  of  his 
Christian  character. 

And  says  Lieutenant  James  E.  Montgomery,  the  admiral's 
secretary,  who  was  with  him  under  all  kinds  of  circumstances, 
for  many  years,  and  who  was  more  intimately  associated  with 
him  than  any  one  else  outside  of  his  family :  "  I  fail  to  recall 
one  act  that  reflects  upon  him  as  an  upright,  exemplary  Chris- 
tian ;  and  at  the  same  time  I  bear  full  testimony  to  the  truth  of 
the  well- won  and  justly  deserved  reputation  he  has  left  to  the 
world.  He  was  always  truly  religious,  and  he  never  forgot  or 

*  Related  by  Rev.  Dr.  Montgomery  in  preaching  the  admiral's  funeral 
sermon. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAK.  363 

neglected  his  duties  as  a  professing  Christian."  These,  together 
with  "his  unbounded  charity,  tender-hearted  disposition,  and 
child-like  simplicity,  made  him  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  who 
was  at  once  the  hero  of  the  sea  and  a  model  Christian  patriot." 

Full  of  years  and  victories,  crowned  with  unfading  honor  and 
glory,  this  noble-hearted  hero  left  this  world  August  14,  1870. 
He  died  at  the  residence  of  Commodore  Pennock,  in  the  Navy 
Yard  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  and  was  temporarily 
buried  there  August  17.  His  remains  were  removed  to  New 
York,  and  deposited  with  unparalleled  honors  in  a  beautiful 
mound  in  Woodlawn  Cemetery,  September  30,  1870.  "  Blessed 
are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord." 


364  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB. 


GEORGE  H.  STUART. 

Sketch  of,  by  Dr.  Wylie  —  His  Birth  —  Parents  —  Education  —  Arrival  in 
this  Country  —  Religious  Profession  —  Elected  Ruling  Elder  —  His 
Christian  Zeal  and  Liberality  —  Missionary  Spirit — A  Sabbath-school 
Worker  • —  Suggested  the  National  Presbyterian  Convention,  and  Pre- 
sided over  it  —  His  Suspension  from  the  Church  —  Refused  a  Position 
in  President  Grant's  Cabinet  —  A  Successful  Merchant  —  His  Natural 
Talents  —  Christian  Character  —  An  Expert  Presiding  Officer  —  His 
Natural  Eloquence  —  Attractive  Speaker  and  Successful  Beggar — He 
always  Succeeds  —  Goes  About  Doing  Good  —  His  Marriage  —  Family 

—  Personal  Appearance  —  His  Labors  in  the  Christian  Commission  — 
Its  Leading  Spirit  and  President  —  His  Qualifications  and  Devotion  to 
the  Work  —  Secret  of  His  Success  —  Distributes  Books  —  Overcomes 
an  Infidel  —  The  People's  Faith  in  him  —  Money  Flows  in  at  his  Ask- 
ing—  His  Importunity  Prevails  —  His  Zeal  to  Supply  the  Needy  Sol- 
diers —  His  Kindness  to  the  Rebels  —  Rebels  Weep  at  Northern  Kind- 
ness —  His  Fondness  for  Army  Relics  —  "  His  Generalship  in  Prayer  " 

—  He  can  always  have  Prayer  —  "  An  Eminent  Christian  at  Work  " 

—  His  Christian  Sagacity  —  His  Popularity  —  An  Eloquent  Speaker  — 
His  Speech  in  England. 

THE  wisdom,  goodness,  and  power  of  God  are  strikingly  mani- 
fested in  amply  providing  for  every  emergency  of  His  people. 
And  His  provisions  are  always  according   to  the  exigency  of 
the  case.     "  As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be." 

When  the  world  was  about  to  be  deluged,  God  raised  up  a 
Noah  to  prepare  an  ark  to  the  saving  of  his  house  and  two  of 
every  living  thing.  When  a  great  Reformation  was  to  be  brought 
about,  God  raised  up  a  Luther  to  bring  it  to  pass.  When  three 
millions  of  slaves  were  to  be  led  out  of  Egyptian  bondage,  a 
Moses  was  raised  up  to  do  it.  When  the  Church  was  made  to 
pass  through  a  fiery  trial  of  fierce  persecution,  God  raised  up 
hosts  of  heroic  martyrs  to  die  at  the  stake  to  sustain  it.  When  a 
new  nation  was  to  be  born,  God  raised  up  a  Washington  and 
hosts  of  other  heroes  to  establish  it.  When  a  great  rebellion  was 
to  be  quelled,  God  raised  up  a  mighty  army  to  quell  it ;  and  when 
a  great  Christian  Commission  was  necessary  to  sustain  that  army, 
God  raised  up  a  Stuart  to  manage  it.  "  Even  for  this  same  purpose 
have  I  raised  thee  up." 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  365 

The  following  extract  is  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  T.  W.  J. 
Wylie,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Stuart's  distinguished  pastor 
and  friend : 

"GEORGE  HAY  STUART  was  born  at  Rosehall,  County  Down, 
Ireland,  April  2,  1816.  His  parents  were  highly  respected 
members  of  the  Associate  Presbyterian  Church,  under  the  pas- 
toral care  of  the  late  Rev.  George  Hay,  whose  name  he  bears. 
After  receiving  the  usual  elements  of  education,  he  immigrated 
to  this  country,  to  which  several  of  his  family  had  previously 
come;  arriving  in  Philadelphia,  September  1,  1831.  Shortly 
afterward  he  became  a  regular  attendant  at  the  First  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  S.  B.  Wylie  was 
then  the  pastor.  In  connection  with  this  he  made  a  profession 
of  religion  April  24th,  1835.  On  the  7th  of  August,  1842,  he 
was  ordained  a  ruling  elder,  an  office  which  he  still  holds.  Mr.  S. 
enjoyed  the  highest  regard  of  his  pastor,  who  was  able  to  dis- 
cern in  his  character  even  at  an  early  age  the  germs  of  excellence 
which  have  been  subsequently  so  fully  developed.  Mr.  'S.  has 
always  been  one  of  the  most  active,  liberal,  and  useful  members 
of  the  congregation ;  and  to  his  munificent  contributions,  as  well 
as  his  untiring  personal  labors,  much  of  its  prosperity  has  been 
owing.  The  handsome  and  commodious  edifice  occupied  by  the 
congregation,  and  which  has  historic  fame  as  the  place  of  meet- 
ing of  the  Presbyterian  National  Convention  in  1867,  was 
erected  principally  by  his  exertions  and  received  his  generous 
aid.  Mr.  S.  has  been  an  early  and  warm  supporter  of  the  For- 
eign Missionary  cause,  and  for  many  years  acted  as  treasurer  of 
the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  Missionary  Refuge  at  Landour,  Northern  India,  was 
his  gift  to  the  Saharunpur  Mission,  to  all  of  whose  operations  he 
has  made  large  donations.  He  was  also,  for  many  years,  treas- 
urer of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church,  which  received  from  him  valuable  aid.  He  was  early 
interested  in  the  Sabbath -school  cause.  Shortly  after  his  arrival 
in  this  country  he  became  connected,  as  a  teacher,  with  the  Sab- 
bath school  of  the  First  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church,  Phila- 
delphia, and  after  a  few  years  was  elected  its  superintendent,  an 


366  CHEISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

office  which  he  filled  for  about  twenty-five  years  with  the  greatest 
success,  the  number  of  teachers  and  pupils  in  the  parent  school, 
and  two  white  and  one  colored  mission  schools  connected  with 
the  congregation,  amounting  at  one  time  to  nearly  a  thousand. 

"  Mr.  Stuart's  efforts  to  do  good  have  not,  however,  been  re- 
stricted to  any  one  denomination.  Wherever  good  was  to  be 
done,  he  has  been  ready  to  give  all  the  aid  in  his  power. 
The  delegation  of  the  Irish  Presbyterian  Church  sent  to  this 
country  during  the  years  of  famine  in  that  land,  owed  to  his 
counsel,  co-operation,  and  contributions  much  of  its  success. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Duff  visited  America  by  his  invitation,  and  the 
extensive  tour  he  made,  and  the  large  amount  of  money  he  re- 
ceived for  the  College  in  Calcutta,  was,  in  a  great  measure,  the 
result  of  Mr.  S.'s  arrangements.  Other  deputations  from  the 
Presbyterian  Churches  of  Ireland  and  Scotland  were  greatly 
indebted  to  him.  The  Presbyterian  National  Convention  held 
in  Philadelphia,  November,  1867,  which  did  so  much  to  effect 
the  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New  School  Churches,  was  suggested 
by  him,  and  he  was  called  by  acclamation  to  act  as  its  president. 
He  has  been  connected  with  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations 
since  their  organization,  and  was  President  of  the  National  Con- 
ventions held  at  Troy  in  1859,  and  Chicago,  1863.  He  has  been 
for  many  years  an  officer  of  the  American  Sunday-School  Union, 
and  of  the  American  Bible  and  American  Tract  Societies,  in  each 
of  whose  operations  he  has  taken  An  active  part. 

"In  1868  he  was  suspended  by  the  General  Synod  of  the  Re- 
formed Presbyterian  Church  from  his  office  as  a  ruling  elder,  and 
his  membership  in  the  church,  on  a  charge  of  having  sung  hymns 
and  communed  with  Christians  of  other  evangelical  denomina- 
tions, and  declaring  that  he  would  continue  to  do  so.  This  was 
done  without  any  trial,  and  in  his  absence  in  consequence  of 
severe  sickness,  during  which  his  physician  would  not  allow  him 
to  leave  his  room.  This  act  of  discipline  was  formally  condemned 
and  repudiated  by  about  half  of  the  Presbyteries  of  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  led  to  a  suspension  of  their  relations 
to  the  Synod.  The  large  majority  of  the  congregation  with 
which  he  was  connected,  along  with  his  pastor,  refused  to  recog- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  367 

nize  it,  and  it  has  met  with  severe  and  almost  universal  condem- 
nation wherever  it  has  been  known. 

"  The  esteem  and  confidence  felt  for  Mr.  S.  have  led  to  his  being 
called  upon  to  discharge  important  public  trusts.  lie  has  re- 
peatedly and  urgently  been  invited  by  President  Grant  to  occupy 
a  place  in  his  Cabinet,  which  he  has  declined  on  account  of  his 
precarious  health.  He  has,  however,  been  acting  as  one  of  the 
Indian  Commissioners  whose  labors  have  done  so  much  to  protect 
our  aborigines  from  wrong.  He  is  also  one  of  the  members  of 
the  Board  of  Public  Trusts  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  to  which 
the  charge  of  the  humane  and  benevolent  institutions  under  the 
care  of  the  city  has  been  committed. 

"  As  a  merchant,  Mr.  Stuart  occupies  the  foremost  rank,  not 
only  in  regard  to  enterprise  and  sagacity,  but  also  for  an  integ- 
rity which  has  never  been  tarnished  by  a  dishonest  or  dishonor- 
able action.  During  the  war,  while  acting  as  President  of  the 
Christian  Commission,  and  attending  to  the  management  of  his  own 
business,  he  found  time  to  superintend  the  detaiJs  of  the  Commis- 
sion with  a  devotion  which  secured  at  the  lowest  expense  the 
greatest  efficiency. 

"  Mr.  Stuart's  natural  talents  are  of  a  superior  order,  and  would 
have  rendered  him  a  distinguished  man  in  any  position,  whether 
military,  political,  or  ecclesiastical.  Like  the  good  king  of  Judah, 
'  whatever  he  does,  he  does  it  with  all  his  heart,  and  prospers.' 
It  is,  however,  as  an  humble,  earnest,  generous,  and  laborious 
servant  of  Christ  that  his  great  eminence  is  manifested.  He  is 
emphatically  a  man  of  prayer.  Few  persons,  there  is  reason  to 
believe,  are  as  attentive  to  the  private  duties  of  religion,  and  none 
can  excel  him  in  conducting  public  services.  Those  who  hear 
him  pray  feel  that  his  heart  rises  to  GOD.  He  is  very  frequently 
called  on  to  preside  at  public  meetings,  which  he  does  with  une- 
qualled ability.  He  possesses  great  natural  eloquence.  His  style 
is  earnest,  direct,  and  luminous.  At  times  he  moves  to  tears, 
and  again  he  displays  great  power  of  humor.  None  can  command 
better  the  attention  of  an  audience,  or  obtain  more  liberal  con- 
tributions to  the  cause  which  he  advocates.  We  know  not  that 
he  has  ever  failed  in  anything  he  has  undertaken. 


368  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"  While  doing  much  in  public,  Mr.  Stuart  is  remarkable  for 
doing  more  in  private.  He  is  frequently  at  the  bedside  of  the 
sick  and  dying ;  and  avails  himself  of  every  opportunity  in  the 
car,  the  steamer,  the  hotel,  the  counting-room,  the  workshop,  the 
crowded  street,  or  the  lonely  dwelling,  to  give  words  of  counsel 
and  comfort,  and  to  lead  the  sinner  to  the  Saviour.  To  him  '  to 
live  is  CHRIST/ 

"  Mr.  Stuart  has  naturally  a  robust  constitution,  which  his  habits 
of  strict  temperance  have  kept  unimpaired,  although  his  labors 
have  been  so  abundant.  He  has  been,  however,  for  many  years 
a  great  sufferer  from  spasmodic  asthma,  which  has  frequently 
prevented  him  for  weeks  in  succession  from  resting  in  bed. 
Even  in  the  most  severe  paroxysms  of  pain,  he  has  been  enabled 
to  endure  all  without  a  murmur. 

"  Mr.  Stuart  was  married,  May  llth,  1837,  to  Miss  Martha  K. 
Denison,  of  Philadelphia.  They  have  had  nine  children,  four 
of  whom  have  been  called  to  the  heavenly  world,  three  dying  in 
childhood,  and  one,  William  David,  in  his  twenty -third  year,  a 
young  man  of  remarkable  talents,  sanctified  by  an  extraordinary 
measure  of  divine  grace.  Mr.  Stuart's  house  has  been  the  delight- 
ful resort  of  the  great  and  good  of  all  lands :  few  strangers  of  dis- 
tinction visiting  this  country  have  not  lodged  under  his  roof,  or 
sat  at  his  table;  while  at  the  same  time,  multitudes  unknown  to 
fame  have  received  his  warm-hearted  hospitality. 

"  In  person,  Mr.  Stuart  is  a  man  who  would  attract  attention  by 
the  benignant  expression  of  his  features,  along  with  the  intel- 
ligence and  animation  which  his  countenance  displays.  He  is 
nearly  six  feet  in  height,  somewhat  broad-shouldered,  and  stout, 
though  with  a  stoop  recently  from  the  effect  of  sickness  and 
excessive  labor." 

The  mercantile  firm  with  which  Mr.  Stuart  has  been  so  long  con- 
nected was  first  established  at  Philadelphia  in  1827,  and  has  con- 
sisted of  the  brothers,  Messrs.  John,  Joseph,  David,  James,  and 
George  H.  Stuart,  —  the  last  named  being  admitted  in  1837.  It 
has  had  establishments  in  New  York,  Manchester,  and  Liverpool, 
as  well  as  in  Philadelphia.  The  business  has  always  been  man- 
aged with  great  ability ;  and  during  all  the  financial  crises  which 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  369 

have  occurred,  every  shock  has  been  sustained  with  a  reputation 
for  integrity,  liberality,  prudence,  and  success,  which  have  never 
been  surpassed. 

But  it  is  of  Mr.  Stuart's  arduous  labors  in  the  Christian  Com- 
mission we  wish  now  to  speak  more  jparticularly. 

Aroused  by  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  stung  by 
the  defeat  of  Bull  Run,  with  the  war-cloud  rapidly  thickening 
over  the  national  horizon ;  'and  convinced  that  the  quelling  of 
the  rebellion  was  no  small  undertaking  —  moved  by  the  warm 
impulses  of  compassion  and  sympathy  for  the  soldier  and  patri- 
otic devotion  —  the  United  States  Christian  Commission  sprang 
into  existence  as  by  magic.  It  rose  from  a  spontaneous  and  heart- 
gushing  liberality,  and  from  a  burning  desire  and  a  full  deter- 
mination of  the  loyal  people  of  the  land  to  quell  the  rebellion 
and  save  the  country.  Its  object  was  to  aid  in  promoting  the 
spiritual  and  temporal  welfare  of  the  officers,  soldiers,  and  sailors 
of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States. 

In  this  grand  movement,  the  like  of  which  was  before  un- 
known to  the  world,  Mr.  Stuart  was  the  great  leading  spirit  from 
beginning  to  end.  At  its  first  meeting  he  was  chosen  chairman 
of  the  Commission,  and  so  remained  till  its  close.*  Embracing 
men  of  all  the  leading  evangelical  denominations,  and  embodying 
a  large  amount  of  the  best  character  and  talent  of  the  nation, 
inspired  with  the  noble  cause  of  liberty  and  self-government,  it 
was  at  once  capable  of  a  glorious  work. 

Liberal,  enterprising,  and  with  an  energetic,  buoyant  heart, 
and  possessing  fine  executive  abilities  and  a  lofty  patriotism, 
Mr.  Stuart  was  eminently  qualified  for  the  position  of  chairman ; 

*  The  following  extract  'from  the  "  First  Annual  Report  of  the  Chris- 
tian Commission  "  shows  its  origin  :  "  At  a  convention  of  delegates  from  Young 
Men's  Christian  Associations,  held  in  the  city  of  New  York,  November  16, 
1861,  the  following  persons  were  appointed  as  a  United  States  Christian  Com- 
mission: Rev.  Rollin  H.  Neale,  D.D.,  Boston;  George  H.  Stuart,  Esq.,  Phila- 
delphia ;  Charles  Demond,  Esq.,  Boston  ;  John  P.  Crozier,  Esq.,  Philadelphia; 
Rev.  Bishop  E.  S.  Janes,  D.D.,  New  York  ;  Rev.  M.  L.  R.  P.  Thompson,  D.D., 
Cincinnati;  Hon.  Benj.  F.  Manniere,  New  York;  Col.  Clinton  B.  Fisk,  St. 
Louis  ;  Rev.  Benj.  C.  Cutler,  D.D.,  Brooklyn  ;  John  V.  Farwell,  Esq.,  Chicago  ; 
Mitchell  H.  Miller,  Esq.,  Washington  ;  John  D.  Hill,  M.D.,  Buffalo." 
24 


370  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

and  enjoying  the  full  confidence  of  the  American  people,  with 
his  excellent  business  qualifications,  rich  experience,  and  un- 
bounded popularity,  he  managed  the  affairs  of  the  Commission 
with  marked  ability,  strict  economy,  and  universal  satisfaction. 
Aided  by  the  hearty  co-operation  of  a  generous,  patriotic  people 
and  efficient  officers,  and  encouraged  by  the  exigencies  of  the  case 
and  the  glory  of  the  cause,  Mr.  Stuart,  under  God,  has  made  this 
noble  institution  a  great  blessing  to  the  army  and  navy,  to  the 
Church,  and  to  the  world.* 

And  he  not  only  managed  the  Commission  well,  but  with  a 
heart  longing  for  souls  and  glowing  with  compassion  for  the 
soldier,  he  made  an  excellent  canvasser  in  the  hospital  and  the 
camp.  With  a  head  well  stored  and  a  heart  well  fired  with  the 
doctrines  of  the  Cross,  he  could  sit  down  and  talk  Jesus  to  the 
sick,  wounded,  and  dying  soldier  with  great  success.  His  great- 
heartedness,  overflowing  kindness,  warm  sympathies,  abounding 
charity,  and  Christian  enthusiasm,  together  with  a  soul  lit  up  by  the 
spirit  of  God,  eminently  fitted  him  for  this  great,  soul-saving  work. 

With  these  winning  traits,  painstaking  labors,  and  earnest 
desires  for  the  soldier's  welfare,  the  noble-hearted  philanthropist 
soon  won  their  warmest  attachment  and  love. 

Professor  Stoever,  of  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  in  describing  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg  to  Mr.  Daniel  Macrea,  of  Glasgow,  said  "  that 
Mr.  Stuart  was  there,  and  prayed  with  dying  men  upon  the  field. 
He  was  very  much  loved  by  the  soldiers.  One  of  our  poor  boys 
at  Gettysburg  lifted  his  bleeding  head,  and  said  to  Mr.  Stuart, 
'Will  you  let  me  kiss  you  before  I  die?'"  With  hearts  over- 
flowing with  gratitude  for  acts  of  kindness  received,  they  would 
frequently  kiss  the  hand  of  the  delegate  or  chaplain. 

But  with  all  these  eminent  gifts  and 'graces,  the  great  secret 
of  Mr.  Stuart's  success,  under  God,  was  mainly  in  his  unyielding 
perseverance.  It  lay  in  the  principle  that  prompted  his  im- 
mortal words :  f  "  I  DON'T  BELIEVE  IN  BEING  CONQUERED  ! " 

*  A  further  account  of  the  labors,  expenses,  and  contributions  of  the  Com- 
mission is  contained  in  Chapter  XXII. 

•}•  Uttered  in  his  speech  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1864. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  ,.371 

u  I  NEVER  GIVE  UP  anything  that  is  practicable ! "  He 
was  speaking  about  distributing  books,  and  said,  "  I  have 
visited  many  of  the  hospitals  and  some  of  the  camps,  and  dis- 
tributed many  of  these  religious  books,  and  I  can  testify  that, 
from  the  beginning  until  now,  I  have  never  met  a  man  who 
refused  my  books,  save  only  one,  and  he  was  from  my  own  city 
(Philadelphia).  He  told  me  that  he  was  an  infidel,  that  he  did 
not  believe  in  my  books,  that  he  did  not  need  them.  Said  he, 
'  I  am  from  Philadelphia ;  I  live  at  such  a  number,  Callowhill 
Street ;  if  you  will  go  there,  you  will  find  out  my  character,  and 
that  I  am  as  good  as  you  are.'  '  I  trust,  a  great  deal  better/  said 
I.  But  the  case  did  seem  a  difficult  one.  '  Stuart,'  said  a  friend, 
to  whom  I  related  the  incident,  '  you  are  beaten  for  once.'  '  No,' 
I  replied,  '  I  am  not  done  with  that  man  yet.'  I  approached  him 
a  short  time  afterward,  and  he  said  to  me,  l  What  is  the  book 
you  wanted  to  give  to  me  ? '  '  It  was  a  selection  from  the  Scrip- 
tures, called  Cromwell's  Bible.'  '  Oh,'  said  he,  '  I  don't  want 
your  Bible  ;  I  've  no  need  of  it ;  I  'm  a  good  enough  man  with- 
out it;'  and,  with  a  motion  of  supreme  indifference,  he  turned  his 
head.  Said  I,  'My  friend,  I  'm  from  Philadelphia,  too.  I  know 
where  you  live — can  find  the  exact  house.  On  next  Sunday  eve- 
ning, if  God  spares  my  life,  I  expect  to  speak  for  the  Christian 
Commission  in  the  Church  of  the  Epiphany.'  He  looked  at  me 
with  an  inquisitive  air.  { And  what  are  you  going  to  say  ? '  '  I  am 
going  to  tell  the  people  that  I  had  been  distributing  books  and 
tracts  all  day  through  the  hospitals  and  camps  I  had  visited,  and 
that  I  had  found  but  one  man  who  refused  to  take  them,  and  he  was 
from  Philadelphia.'  'Well,  what  more  are  you  going  to  say?' 
the  man  asked,  with  a  steady  gaze,  apparently  defying  my  at- 
tempts to  move  him.  *  Well,  I  '11  tell  them  that  I  commenced 
my  tract-distribution  this  morning  at  the  White  House  in  Wash- 
ington; and  the  first  gentleman  I  offered  one  of  these  little 
books  was  one  Abraham  Lincoln ;  that  he  rose  from  his  chair, 
read  the  title,  expressed  great  pleasure  in  receiving  it,  and  pro- 
mised to  read  it.  But  that  I  came  to  one  of  his  cooks,  here 
in  these  quarters,  and  he  was  so  exceedingly  good  that  he  did  n'l 
need  a  copy  of  the  word  of  God,  and  would  n't  have  one ! ' 


372  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

( Well/  said  the  man,  completely  conquered,  '  if  the  President 
can  take  one,  I  suppose  I  can/  as  he  reached  out  his  hand  and 
received  it ! " 

Here  we  see  the  glorious  results  of  perseverance.  Yes,  it  is 
"the  unconquerable  will"  and  unswerving  determination  that 
leads  to  noble  deeds  and  grand  achievements.  What,  we  ask, 
led  to  the  great  success  of  this  great  Commission,  which  began 
with  sixteen  members,  had  in  its  employ  over  five  thousand  dele- 
gates, and  gave  over  six  millions  of  dollars,  and  an  infinite  num- 
ber of  books,  pamphlets,  tracts,  and  papers  to  the  army  and  navy 
in  four  years  ?  It  was  the  energy  and  perseverance  of  its  liberal 
supporters,  and  the  zeal  of  its  noble-hearted  chairman.  His  great 
liberality  and  burning  zeal  in  this  great  work  were  manifested  in 
his  furnishing  the  Commission  with  office  and  store  room ;  in 
giving  his  own  time  and  labors,  and  the  services  of  clerks  and 
porters,  all  free  of  charge.  With  his  whole  soul  and  great  heart 
absorbed  and  wrapped  up  in  this  glorious  work,  Mr.  Stuart 
prayed  and  labored  for  it  as  though  he  felt  that  the  salvation 
of  the  country  depended  upon  his  own  individual  efforts. 

And  to  save  expense,  through  his  and  the  combined  influence 
of  the  other  officers  of  the  Commission,  railroad  and  telegraph 
companies  gave  their  services  in  transporting  stores  and  delegates 
and  in  transmitting  telegrams  without  cost. 

Commanding  the  respect  and  full  confidence  of  the  religious 
publishing  societies  of  the  country,  the  American  Bible  and  the 
American  Tract  Societies,  and  other  publishing  societies,  gave 
very  liberally  of  their  publications  in  books,  periodicals,  tracts, 
and  papers,  to  supply  the  spiritual  and  intellectual  wants  of  the 
men  in  the  field.  Led  on  by  the  wisdom,  energy,  and  heroic  de- 
votion of  its  efficient  chairman,  and  having  secured  the  confidence 
of  the  people  and  a  strong  hold  upon  their  sympathies,  prayers, 
and  purses,  and  inspired  by  the  grandeur  and  glory  of  the  coun- 
try's salvation,  the  Commission  met  with  a  success  unparalleled 
in  the  history  of  the  world. 

The  people  gave  money  by  the  million,  and  they  gave  Bibles, 
books,  papers,  and  tracts  by  tens  of  millions. 

The  rapidity  with  which  the  people  raised  money  for  the  Com- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  373 

mission  is  seen  from  the  words  of  Mr.  Stuart  to  his  Scotch  friend, 
Mr.  Macrea :  "  We  relied/'  said  he,  "  on  the  voluntary  contribu- 
tions of  the  people  —  and  how  nobly  they  responded  !  After  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  when  tens  of  thousands  of  wounded  and 
dying  men  were  thrown  upon  our  hands,  I  telegraphed  in  all 
directions.  To  Boston  I  telegraphed,  '  Can  I  draw  on  you  for 
ten  thousand  dollars  at  sight  ? '  It  was  stuck  up  in  the  Exchange. 
The  merchants  at  once  formed  in  line  to  put  down  their  sub- 
scriptions. In  half  an  hour  the  answer  came :  '  Draw  for  sixty 
thousand  dollars.'  And,"  said  Mr.  Stuart,  "  the  little  children 
helped  us  too.  They  made  tens  of  thousands  of  little  housewives' 
comfort-bags,  as  the  soldiers  called  them,  with  buttons,  needles 
and  thread,  comb,  cake  of  soap,  and,  above  all,  a  little  tract  or 
Testament,  and  sent  them  on  through  the  Commission  to  the 
needy  soldiers,  and  they  did  them  a  world  of  good." 

Thus  armed  and  equipped,  the  Commission  had  nothing  to  do 
but  to  go  forward,  labor,  and  pray  ;  gather  up  delegates,  and 
collect  stores  and  distribute  them  as  needed  in  the  field.  And  it 
is  wonderful  to  see  with  what  great  despatch  stores  and  delegates 
were  procured  and  sent  on.  They  gathered  them  as  by  magic,' 
and  sent  them  free  by  lightning-trains.  We  give  one  example. 
It  was  a  pressing  case.  A  number  of  delegates  and  boxes  of 
stores  had  just  been  sent  to  Murfreesborough  on  Saturday  night ; 
and  on  Monday  morning,  early,  an  urgent  request  reached  the 
central  office  for  another  supply.  Grasping  the  situation,  with- 
out a  moment's  hesitation,  Mr.  Stuart  decided  to  send  them  by 
the  next  train,  if  possible.  They  had  only  an  hour  and  a  half  to 
get  them  ready.  The  delegates  were  ready  waiting,  but  passes 
had  to  be  procured  for  them,  and  an  order  for  the  free  passage 
of  the  stores  also.  The  time  was  short,  and  the  depot  was  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  away.  At  Mr.  Stuart's  request,  a  letter  was 
despatched  to  the  vice-president  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
for  the  passes,  an,d  half  a  dozen  clerks  were  sent  to  buy  the  stores, 
and  porters  and  draymen  to  gather  them  into  the  depot.  At  ten 
minutes  before  eleven  the  messenger  sent  to  the  vice-president 
for  the  passes  returned,  saying,  "  There  are  twenty  men  or  more 
before  the  door,  and  the  door  is  locked ;  it 's  no  use  trying  to  swr 


374  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

him."  The  train  will  start  in  thirty-five  minutes,  and  the  stores 
are  pouring  into  the  depot.  Deeply  anxious  to  have  them  go, 
Mr.  Stuart  at  once  hurried  to  the  office  of  the  vice-president, 
and  instead  of  pressing  his  way  in  front,  he  went  round  through 
a  private  way  into  a  communicating  office,  and  said  to  the  gentle- 
man occupying  it,  "  I  must  see  Mr.  Scott ;  I  have  not  a  moment 
to  spare ;  just  open  the  door."  The  door  was  opened,  Mr.  Scott 
was  seen,  and,  although  overwhelmed  with  business,  the  passes 
were  signed,  and  the  order  for  the  free  transmission  of  the  stores 
was  given  —  and  Mr.  Stuart  was  back  before  the  clock  struck 
eleven  !  And  before  the  remaining  twenty-five  minutes  had  ex- 
pired, the  stores  —  twenty-five  boxes,  etc.  —  were  piled  into  the 
cars,  all  numbered,  marked,  invoiced,  and  went  free,  with  light- 
ning speed,  with  the  delegates  to  Nashville  ! 

And  so  intense  was  the  desire  and  earnest  the  efforts  to  supply 
the  needy  soldiers,  that  the  Commission,  through  the  earnest  im- 
portunity of  Mr.  Stuart,  sometimes  prevailed  upon  long  trains  of 
cars  to  wait  to  take  provisions  to  the  suffering  braves.  ...  It  was 
for  a  Thanksgiving  dinner  for  the  soldiers  at  Bolivar's  Heights, 
near  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.  Mrs.  Dr.  Harris  wrote  Mr.  Stuart 
about  the  rough,  scanty  fare  of  the  soldiers  there  —  asking  for 
something  more  than  "dry  bread,  half-boiled  beef,  and  a  poor 
mixture  called  tea,"  for  their  Thanksgiving  dinner.  Owing  to  the 
great  press  of  business  at  the  office,  Mrs.  Harris's  letter  was  nol 
read  until  it  was  too  late  to  get  ready  and  forward  what  was 
necessary  for  the  dinner.  But,  presuming  that  railroads  would 
do  extraordinary  things  under  such  extraordinary  circumstances, 
the  articles  for  the  dinner  were  prepared  with  great  despatch  and 
hurried  to  the  depot  to  go  on  the  express  train.  The  conductor 
agreed  to  take  them,  and  they  put  them  aboard  as  quick  as  pos- 
sible ;  yet,  with  all  their  haste,  they  failed  to  get  them  in  due 
time.  But  the  compassionate  conductor  waited,  and,  with  Mrs. 
Harris  going  along  to  push  them  through,  they  reached  their 
destination  in  due  time,  and  the  poor  soldiers  had  a  splendid 
Thanksgiving  dinner.  Forewarned  of  an  approaching  battle, 
they  always  sent  stores  in  advance.  And,  in  order  still  more  to 
expedite  this  business,  they  always  kept  on  hand  a  quantity  of 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  375 

ptores  packed  ready  for  a  battle  at  any  time,  marked  "  Stores  for 
the  next  battle."  And  to  render  immediate  living  aid,  they  had 
a  class  of  delegates  they  called  "minute-men"  ready  to  go  at  any 
time  on  five  minutes'  notice ;  and,  said  Mr.  Stuart,  "  If  one  of 
them  was  on  the  pulpit  preaching  when  the  telegram  reached 
him,  he  must  stop,  and  hurry  off  to  the  battle-field." 

It  was  very  encouraging  to  the  Commission  to  see  how  will- 
ingly the  soldiers  would  assist  them  in  anything  they  could  do. 
Was  an  army  church  to  be  erected,  they  would  turn  out  en  masse 
and  help  put  it  up !  A  regiment  would  cut  the  logs,  gather  them 
in,  and  put  up  a  church  iu  a  few  hours.  In  this  way,  the  Com- 
mission erected  fifty  churches  in  one  week.  Sometimes  they 
would  begin  and  lay  the  foundation  of  a  church  in  the  morning, 
and  have  preaching  in  it  at  night. 

Founded  upon  the  "Rock  of  Ages,"  and  deeply  imbued  with 
the  loving  spirit  of  its  cheerful  chairman,  the  Christian  Com- 
mission was  a  GREAT  COMFORTER.  It  administered  comfort 
both  to  the  soldier's  soul  and  body.  When  it  found  a  man  suf- 
fering for  suitable  food,  it  fed  the  body  first,  and  the  soul  after- 
ward. To  the  hungry  it  offered  bread  first,  and  then  a  Baxter's 
Call.  To  the  thirsty  it  offered  a  cup  of  cold  water  before  the 
cup  of  salvation.  Relieving  the  outer  man  tends  to  give  access 
to  the  inner.  It  brought  the  fresh  sympathies  of  dear  friends 
and  the  sweet  pleasures  of  home  close  to  the  camp  and  the  hos- 
pital. And,  being  so  long  destitute  of  these  cheering  attractions, 
nothing  else  seemed  to  do  the  soldiers  so  much  good.  Anything 
direct  from  home,  (even  but  a  flower,)  that  would  cause  the  mystic 
cords  of  memory  to  vibrate  from  the  dreary  hospital,  from  the 
lonely  camp,  or  from  the  bloody  battle-field,  to  the  hallowed 
scenes  of  home,  and  there  to  linger  around  the  lovely  forms  of  a 
dear  sister,  an  affectionate  mother,  or  a  beloved  wife,  would  cheer 
and  revive  the  drooping  spirits  of  the  most  forlorn  soldier. 

We  give  an  illustration  in  the  language  of  a  soldier:  "I 
was  seated  in  my  tent  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac,  weary  and 
worn,  heartsick  and  homesick,  when  a  letter  was  brought  in  by 
the  postboy,  and  handed  to  me.  It  bore  the  impress  of  a  sister's 
direction.  I  opened  it  eagerly.  A  rosebud  from  a  favorite 


376  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB. 

bush  at  home  fell  upon  my  lap.  It  was  a  precious  memento  ot* 
home,  and  of  a  sister's  love.  I  forgot  the  letter.  I  seized  the 
rosebud,  pressed  it  to  my  lips  with  a  kiss,  and  sent  up  a  prayer 
that  God  would  bless  my  sister,  my  home,  and  all  its  dear  ones 
who  were  brought  so  vividly  before  me.  Ah  !  had  I  been  called 
at  that  moment  to  draw  the  sword  or  shoulder  the  musket  and 
repair  to  the  field  of  battle,  I  would  have  fought  with  tenfold 
valor  for  my  country ;  for  my  country  is  the  home  of  my  mother 
that  I  love,  and  the  sister  who  had  not  forgotten  me."  *  Such  is 
the  wonderful  power  of  sympathy.  Oh,  how  important  to  cul- 
tivate and  bestow  it ! 

But,  endowed  with  this  lofty  spirit,  and  engaged  in  the  holy 
cause  of  God,  liberty,  and  truth,  the  Christian  Commission  was 
not  only  a  great  comforter,  but  it  was  also  a  great  life-preserver  and 
soul-saver.  Under  God,  it  preserved  men's  lives,  and  saved  their 
souls.  In  speaking  of  the  labors  of  the  delegates  among  the  sol- 
diers, Bishop  Mcllvaine,  of  Ohio,  said,  in  a  mass  meeting  of  the 
Commission  in  Philadelphia,  "  We  rejoice  that  they  are  able  to 
take  stimulants  to  the  faint,  and  food  to  the  hungry.  We  think 
it  exceedingly  precious  that  they  are  able  to  minister  to  such 
necessities ;  but  oh,  dear  brethren,  there  is  a  joy  unspeakable 
above  such  joys  as  that,  that  they  are  permitted  to  share.  It  is 
precious  to  hear  one  say,  ( I  should  have  died  upon  the  battle- 
field but  for  the  supplies  that  the  Christian  Commission  brought 
me ! '  But  oh,  how  unspeakably  more  precious  is  it  to  you  and 
to  me,  brethren,  to  hear  one  saying,  in  addition  to  this,  '  I  should 
have  perished  in  my  sins,  had  it  not  been  for  the  precious  words 
which  Christ  spoke  to  me  through  the  men  whom  the  Christian 
Commission  sent  to  me.' " 

Abounding  in  these  noble  deeds  and  lofty  aims,  the  Christian 
Commission  was  food,  clothing,  and  shelter  to  the  destitute ; 
medicine,  nurse,  and  physician  to  the  sick  and  wounded ;  joy 
and  hope  to  the  dying ;  and  strength  and  encouragement  to  the 
Government.  Armed  with  the  panoply  of  heaven,  laboring  in- 
cessantly by  day  and  by  night  in  dispensing  the  benign  influences 

*  Extract  from  Ex-Governor  Pollock's  address  at  the  first  annual  meeting 
of  the  Christian  Commission  in  Washington,  D.  C. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  377 

of  the  gospel,  and  receiving  no  pay  but  the  soldier's  hearty 
"  God  bless  you  !  "  and  most  successfully  managed  by  the  match- 
less George  H.  Stuart,  it  was  the  glory  of  the  land  and  the 
brightest  honor  of  the  Church ! 

KINDNESS   TO  REBELS. 

The  care,  compassion,  and  labors  of  the  Christian  Commission 
were  not  confined  to  the  men  of  our  own  army  and  navy.  Chris- 
tianity is  not  selfish  and  sectional.  It  is  not  bounded  by  conti- 
nents, oceans,  empires,  and  states ;  it  is  not  confined  to  army 
lines,  camps,  guards,  and  pickets.  No ;  Christ  says,  "  Do  good 
unto  all  men;"  "if  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him ;  if  he  thirst, 
give  him  drink."  Constrained  by  a  Saviour's  love,  the  earnest 
Christian's  heart  embraces  and  yearns  for  the  salvation  of  a  lost 
world.  The  cross  of  Christ,  when  heartily  received,  consumes 
and  annihilates  self.  Self  cannot  live  at  the  foot  of  the  cross. 
There  it  dies ;  and  there  it  lies  buried.  Moved  by  this  Christ- 
like  principle,  the  noble  delegates  of  the  Christian  Commission 
administered  to  the  wants  of  the  soldiers  and  officers  of  the  rebel 
army  as  well  as  our  own.  The  writer  has  often  done  this,  and 
received  hearty  thanks  for  it.  In  telling  them  of  Jesus,  we  have 
often  seen  them  weep  profusely.  They  often  sent  for  me  to  come 
and  pray  with  them  in  the  hospital.  I  have  often  preached  to 
them  in  their  wards;  and  when  they  died,  we  always  read  and 
prayed  at  their  graves.  They  fared  just  the  same  in  the  hospital 
as  the  Union  soldiers. 

When  the  writer,  with  a  number  of  other  officers  who  had  just 
been  released  from  Libby  Prison,  was  being  exchanged  at  City 
Point,  Va.,  we  met  a  number  of  rebel  prisoners  just  from  John- 
son's Island;  and,  seeing  them  looking  so  well,  one  of  our  men 
asked  them,  "  How  did  you  fare  way  up  North  ?  "  "  First-rate, 
first-rate!  "  was  one's  immediate  reply;  and  he  went  on  to  tell 
what  good  things  they  had  to  eat. 

In  speaking  of  his  ministrations  to  Confederate  wounded,  who 
were  brought  to  Martinsburg  in  the  same  wagons  with  our  own 
men,  Rev.  T.  B.  Thayer  says,  in  Incidents  of  the  U.  8.  Christian 
Commission:  "As  we  have  ministered  to  their  wants  and  ad- 


378  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

dressed  words  of  kindness  to  them,  tears  have  started  from  eyes 
unaccustomed  to  weeping.  They  fairly  overwhelmed  us  with 
their  thankful  expressions.  '  This  is  what  I  call  living  Chris- 
tianity/ one  would  say.  '  This  is  the  religion  for  me/  added  an- 
other. '  I  can't  stand  this/  said  a  rough,  hard-looking  fellow, 
badly  wounded  in  the  foot,  but  able  to  hobble  along  on  crutches; 
'  I  can't  stand  this,  boys ;  it  overcomes  me ;  I  give  in/  with  his 
whole  frame  shaking  with  emotion,  and  the  big  tears  falling  from 
his  sun-burnt  face  —  tears  which  he  tried  to  conceal  from  his 
comrades  and  us.  '  You  know/  he  continued,  '  I  am  no  coward  ; 
I  can  face  the  enemy,  and  not  wink ;  but  this  kindness  kills  me ; 
it  breaks  me  all  to  pieces.  I  tell  you,  boys,  this  is  no  humbug ; 
it's  a  big  thing;  it's  the  gospel  for  body  and  soul — just  what 
we  all  need.'  And  so  he  went  on  in  the  truest  eloquence  for 
some  minutes,  closing  with  the  ever-recurring  soldier's  benedic- 
tion, '  God  bless  you ! ' " 

In  speaking  of  the  rebels  found  on  the  battle-field,  Mr.  Stuart 
said,  "  If  we  found  them  dying,  we  took  their  last  messages  and 
wrote  to  their  friends,  just  as  if  they  had  been  our  own  soldiers. 
It  was  the  same  in  the  hospitals.  The  poor  fellows  would  some- 
times burst  into  tears.  One  of  them  said,  '  You  fight  us  like 
devils,  but  you  nurse  us  like  angels.' " 

Mr.  Stuart's  fondness  for  army  relics  and  Christian  Commis- 
sion memorials  is  seen  in  his  statement  to  his  friend  from  Glas- 
gow. "  When  you  go  to  Gettysburg,  you  must  see  Round  Top, 
where  the  battle  was  fiercest,  and  where  the  dead  lay  five  or  six 
deep.  Lee  said  to  Barksdale,  of  Mississippi,  '  That  height  must 
be  taken  if  it  cost  you  all  your  men.'  Barksdale  went,  and  buried 
himself  and  his  whole  force  on  that  slope.  This  Testament 
(holding  it  in  his  hand)  was  found  there  among  the  dead." 

"  He  showed  me,"  said  Mr.  Macrea,  "  another  little  Testament 
that  had  saved  a  soldier's  life.  '  It  belonged  to  one  of  our  boys/ 
said  Mr.  Stuart.  '  He  always  carried  it  in  his  breast-pocket.  In 
one  battle  a  bullet  struck  him,  and  nearly  knocked  him  down. 
It  had  struck  on  the  Testament,  and  pierced  it  to  the  back  board ; 
there,  as  you  see,  it  stopped,  and  his  life  was  saved.  There  are 
snores  like  this  scattered  up  and  down  the  country.  Some  wives 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  379 

have  them  with  the  blood-stains  on  the  leaves.  I  saw  one  where 
the  ball  had  stopped  at  a  verse  that  struck  the  man,  and  which 
proved  the  means  of  his  conversion.  He  was  killed  afterward, 
but  his  wife  preserved  the  Testament.  I  said  to  her,  '  I  would 
like  to  own  that  Testament  —  what  will  you  take  for  it  ? '  '  Oh, 
Mr.  Stuart/  she  said,  '  there  is  n't  gold  enough  in  the  country  to 
buy  it  from  me.' " 

HIS    GENERALSHIP   IN    PRAYER. 

In  speaking  of  the  Christian  Commission  practice  of  connect- 
ing religion  with  all  their  operations,  Mr.  Stuart  said  to  Mr. 
Macrea,  "/  never  was  in  a  place  where  I  couldn't  have  prayer. 
When  dissolving  the  Commission,  we  went  round  (more  than 
one  hundred  of  us)  and  called  on  Johnson,  Stanton,  Grant,  and 
all  the  heads  of  Departments,  and  had  prayer  with  them  all. 
When  we  went  to  the  White  House,  some  of  them  said,  '  Re- 
member, Johnson  is  a  different  man  from  Lincoln.'  I  said,  'I 
know  it.'  However,  before  we  left,  I  said  to  the  President,  '  Mr. 
Johnson,  you  have  been  called  to  the  head  of  the  nation  at  a  very 
critical  time.'  'Yes,  yes/  he  said.  ' After  a  man  who  was  the 
idol  of  the  people.'  'Yes.'  'No  man  has  been  raised  to  a  posi- 
tion where  he  stands  more  in  need  of  divine  help.'  '  It  is  true/ 

'  Dr. will  perhaps  ask  the  divine  blessing  and  guidance 

for  you  before  we  go.'  The  President  made  no  objection,  and  we 
all  knelt  in  prayer. 

"  But  when  we  went  to  Culpepper  to  see  Botts,  Dr.  Kirk  and 
the  rest  of  them  said  there  was  no  hope  there.  Botts  was  a 
prominent  statesman.  He  had  opposed  the  Democrats  of  the 
South,  but  he  had  no  sympathy  with  the  movements  on  behalf 
of  the  negro.  We  knew  that ;  and  he  had  the  reputation  of  being 
an  infidel.  I  thought  it  all  the  more  necessary  that  we  should, 
if  possible,  have  prayer.  He  received  us  very  kindly.  When 
we  were  preparing  to  leave,  I  said/  You  have  seen  a  good  deal  of 
fighting  here,  Mr.  Botts?'  '  Fighting  ! '  said  he  ;  '  I  have  seen 
fifteen  battles  from  that  window.'  '  You  have  run  many  risks  ?' 
*  You  may  well  say  that/  he  replied.  '  Now,  gentlemen/  I  said, 
turning  to  the  others,  '  Mr.  Botts  has  sacrificed  a  great  deal  for 


380  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

the  country ;  he  has  suffered  a  great  deal ;  he  may  have  much  to 
suffer  still  —  we  cannot  tell.  Now,  I  think,  before  going,  Dr. 
Kirk  might  lead  us  in  thanking  God  for  having  preserved  Mr. 
Botts  through  so  much,  and  praying  that  Mr.  Botts  may  be  long 
spared  to  serve  his  country,  and  see  it  restored  to  prosperity  and 
peace.'  Botts,  who  had  been  throwing  in  prompt  words  of  assent 
to  everything  that  went  before,  looked  queer  at  this.  We  all 
began  to  go  down  upon  our  knees.  Botts  looked  about  with  a 
ludicrous  expression  of  perplexity  on  his  face;  but,  seeing  us  all 
kneeling,  he  seemed  to  feel  there  was  no  escape,  and  slipped  re- 
luctantly down  upon  his  knees.  When  we  came  out,  Dr.  Kirk 
said,  'I  never  prayed  in  such  strange  circumstances  before.' 
'  Well,'  said  I,  '  you  never  prayed  more  powerfully.'  Neither  he 
had.  Some  of  them  said  that  Botts  was  in  tears  when  he  rose."  * 
What  an  invaluable  lecture  on  pastoral  theology !  For  practical 
utility  it  is  worth  more  than  whole  volumes  of  ordinary  lectures. 
Like  Paul,  Mr.  Stuart  seems  to  know  perfectly  "how  to  be  all 
things  to  all  men."  To  make  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Botts  "  feel 
that  there  was  no  escape,"  but  to  kneel  in  prayer,  denotes  won- 
derful ingenuity ! 

If  we  should  attempt  to  describe  Mr.  Stuart  as  a  Christian,  it 
would  be  hard  to  find  words  sufficiently  expressive.  The  Rev. 
T.  W.  J.  Wylie,  D.  D.,  speaks  of  him  as  "  that  most  eminent 
servant  of  God  !  "  We  do  not  wish  to  exaggerate,  but  when  we 
look  at  his  great  liberality,  self-denying  labors,  and  his  eminent 
success  in  managing  the  Christian  Commission,  and  his  heroic 
devotion  to  his  country,  and  to  his  Master's  cause,  as  exhibited 
therein,  as  a  Christian  philanthropist,  and  as  "a  Christian  at 
work,"  he  is  one  of  the  most  eminent  in  the  world.  His  Chris- 
tian sagacity  exhibited  in  his  generalship  in  prayer  was  most 
masterly.  We  do  not  believe  there  is  another  man  in  the  world 
that  could  have  succeeded  as  well.  By  the  winning  force  of  his 
powerful  prestige,  genius,  and  tact>  together  with  his  melting 
kindness,  he  brought  every  man  to  his  knees  —  a  place  where 
some  of  them  perhaps  had  never  been  before.  Such  sagacious 
generalship  is  exceedingly  rare.  You  may  search  the  records  of 

*  Mr.  Macrea's  Interview  with  Mr.  Stuart. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAtt.  381 

all  Christendom,  and  explore  the  history  of  the  world,  and  no- 
where, we  believe,  since  the  fall  of  man,  will  you  find  such 
shrewd  strategy.  Corresponding  with  his  unbounded  zeal  and 
popularity,  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  R.  Beadle,  of  Philadelphia,  delegate 
from  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  tho 
United  States  to  the  late  General  Assembly  of  Ireland,  in  speak- 
ing to  the  latter  of  the  distinguished  Irishmen  in  America,  after 
having  mentioned  the  names  of  the  distinguished  Dr.  McCosh, 
of  Princeton,  and  Dr.  Hall,  of  New  York,  said,  "  There  is  an- 
other humble  man,  namely,  George  H.  Stuart,  a  man  who  has 
made  the  whole  continent  love  him." 

Bishop  Simpson,  in  his  farewell  remarks  to  the  Christian  Com- 
mission, said,  "  Early  in  the  history  of  this  Commission,  when 
our  work  had  not  yet  been  fully  developed,  I  remember  to  have 
spoken  of  our  great  leader  —  our  worthy  president,  Mr.  Stuart  — 
as  our  major-general.  But,  sir,  his  works  merit  promotion,  and  I 
nominate  him  now  as  Lieutenant-General  of  the  Christian  Com- 
mission !  He  shall  never  wear  the  stars  upon  his  shoulders ;  but 
above  and  behind  yon  clouds,  which  hide  the  Invisible  from  view, 
there  are  crowns,  and  there  are  stars  which  shall  shine  in  his 
crown  of  rejoicing  forever  !  " 

As  a  speaker,  Mr.  Stuart  is  ready,  tender,  touching,  eloquent, 
and  impressive.  With  a'quick  discernment,  he  always  grasps  the 
situation,  and  makes  his  speeches  very  appropriate,  eloquent,  and 
powerful.  Standing  before  the  annual  meeting  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  says  the  "American  Messenger,"  "  he 
thrilled  the  immense  audience  by  evidences  of  the  divine  bless- 
ing on  the  Bible  in  our  late  civil  war,  and  closed  by  saying : 

"  '  England  and  America  speak  the  same  language,  they  worship 
the  same  God,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  they  are  the  two 
great  Protestant  nations  of  the  earth,  and  woe  to  the  hand  that 
ever  causes  blood  to  flow  between  them.  England  and  America  — 
there  may  have  occasionally  risen  up  differences  of  opinion  be- 
tween them ;  but  I  say  here,  what  I  wrote  a  short  time  since  to 
a  member  of  the  Washington  Cabinet..  I  said  to  him,  "  Sir,  I 
believe,  all  through  this  terrible  conflict,  there  are  no  two  agencies 
which  God  has  so  much  blessed  in  the  preserving  of  peace  be- 


382  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

tween  the  two  countries  as  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
and  the  American  Bible  Society."  I  say,  God  bless  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society !  God  bless  its  honored  president ! 
may  he  be  long  spared  to  carry  on  his  work  of  usefulness.  God 
bless  the  American  Bible  Society  !  God  bless  its  honored  presi- 
dent !  God  bless  the  Queen  of  England  !  long  may  she  reign 
over  a  prosperous  and  a  free  country.  God  bless  the  President 
of  the  United  States  !  I  long  for  the  coming  of  that  day  when 
all  wars  shall  cease,  and  when  Jesus  Christ  shall  reign  over  all 
lands.' 

"  The  President  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  here 
rose,  and,  amid  the  general  applause  of  the  meeting,  said  that 
with  his  whole  heart  he  reiterated  the  prayer  of  the  last  speaker, 
God  bless  the  President  of  America !  God  bless  the  Queen  of 
England !  And  may  peace  ever  reign  between  the  two  coun- 
tries." This  was  in  1866. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  383 


HENRY  WARD  BEECHER. 

His  Distinguishing  Traits  —  A  Great  Worker  —  His  Style  —  Oratory  — 
His  Birth  —  Lost  his  Mother  —  Early  Religious  Impressions  —  Inured 
to  Hardship  —  A  Bashful,  Stammering,  Unpromi&ing  Boy  —  His  Edu- 
cation —  Went  to  School  Barefooted,  and  Hemmed  Towels  at  Recess  — 
Fond  of  Flowers,  and  Full  of  Jokes  —  Drilled  in  Elocution  —  Tired  of 
School  —  Wishes  to  "Go  to  Sea"  —  Subject  of  a  Revival  —  Unites 
with  the  Church  —  Naval  Project  Given  up — Attention  Turned  to  the 
Ministry  —  Enters  College  — Choice  of  Studies  —  Preferring  Rhetoric, 
Studies  to  Know  "What  to  Say,"  and  "How  to  Say  it"  —  Strictly 
Temperate  —  Conducts  Prayer  Meetings  —  His  Creed  —  Religious 
Impressions  —  Troubled  —  Relieved  —  Buoyant  —  Teaches  School  — 
Lectures  and  Preaches  — The  Slave's  Friend  —  Graduates  —  Studies 
Theology  —  Perplexed  about  Entering  the  Ministry  —  Marries  —  First 
Pastoral  Charge  —  Did  Everything  Himself — Moves  to  Indianapolis  — 
Style  of  Preaching  —  His  Popularity  —  Revival  in  his  Church  —  Moves 
to  Brooklyn  —  Visits  England  and  Europe  —  Lectures  in  England,  and, 
Braving  all  Opposition,  Pleads  America's  Cause  Successfully  —  His 
London  Letter  glowing  with  Joy  and  Gratitude  to  God,  and  Love  to 
his  Enemies  —  Impression  Favorable  —  Affectionate  Enthusiasm  for 
him  —  His  War  Sermons  —  Oration  at  Fort  Sumter. 

THE  prescribed  limits  of  our  book  will  not  admit  of  a  lengthy 
sketch  of  this  renowned  genius.  Distinguished  for  tact,  fore- 
sight, independence,  intrepidity,  patriotism,  and  great  versatility 
of  talent,  he  does  not  need  it.  Constitutionally  buoyant,  and 
naturally  disposed  to  look  at  the  bright  side  of  things,  he  is 
always  lively  and  cheerful ;  self-reliant,  pertinacious,  and  cour- 
ageous, he  cannot  be  swatnped  nor  easily  cried  down  ;  peculiar 
and  progressive  in  his  views,  he  is  often  far  ahead  of  the  rest  of 
mankind,  and  consequently  liable  sometimes  to  get  a  little  off  the 
track.  Laborious  and  energetic,  he  travels  and  lectures,  preaches 
regularly,  writes  books,  and  edits  one  of  the  ablest  papers  in  the 
country.  With  a  style  combining  grandeur,  energy,  simplicity, 
beauty,  and  strength,  he  is  one  of  the  most  popular  writers  of 
the  day.  Being  well  posted  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
human  nature,  always  grasping  the  situation,  and  possessing  fine 
powers  of  illustration,  he  is  one  of  the  most  complete  orators  of 
the  age. 


384  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

And  exhibiting  so  much  genius  and  talent,  it  will  be  interest- 
ing and  profitable  to  trace  him  to  his  early  history  and  origin. 
A  New-Englander  by  birth,  Henry  Ward  Beecher  was  born  in 
Litchfield,  Conn.,  June  24,  1813.  He  is  the  son  of  Roxana  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  so  distinguished  for  his  piety,  theo- 
logical attainments,  and  pulpit  power.  Inheriting  from  his 
parents  a  perfectly  sound  and  healthy  organization  of  both  body 
and  mind,  and  having  lost  his  mother  when  he  was  only  three 
years  old,  he  was  brought  up  with  little  caressing,  and  in  a  way 
that  was  calculated  to  develop  both  his  physical  and  intellectual 
powers.  Having  fallen  into  the  hands  of  a  pious,  refined,  and 
highly  intellectual  step-mother,  he  was  highly  favored  with  a 
kind,  religious,  motherly  training.  It  was  her  custom  every 
Sunday  night  to  take  Henry  Ward  (the  eighth  child  of  the 
family)  and  two  other  little  ones  into  her  bedroom,  and  read, 
talk  to,  and  pray  with  them.  Inured  to  the  long  winters,  severe 
storms,  and  bleak  mountains  of  Connecticut,  he  was  brought  up 
to  industry,  and  knew  what  it  was  to  endure  hardness  when  a 
boy.  During  a  New-England  winter  drought,  when  but  nine 
years  old,  he  harnessed  and  hitched  up  the  horse  to  the  sled,  went 
alone  three  miles  over  an  icy,  hilly  road  to  a  distant  spring, 
dipped  up  and  brought  a  barrel  of  water  for  the  family  —  and 
"thought  nothing  of  it."  The  only  thing  that  grieved  him 
about  it  was,  his  step-mother  compelled  him  to  wear  his  overcoat. 
He  put  it  on,  however;  but  not  without  "tears  of  mortification 
freezing  on  his  cheeks  as  he  went  for  the  water,  because  he  had 
firmly  determined  in  his  own  mind  to  go  a  whole  winter  without 
wearing  an  overcoat."  Although  bashful  and  quite  dull  when  a 
boy  at  school,  yet  the  stammering  lad,  being  ambitious,  AVOS  very 
sensitive  as  to  praise  and  blame.  Nobody  ever  expected  any- 
thing brilliant  of  him ;  and  with  a  very  poor,  indistinct  utter- 
ance, no  one  ever  thought  of  his  making  an  orator.  Said  his 
kind  aunt,  "  When  Henry  is  sent  to  me  with  a  message,  I  always 
have  to  make  him  say  it  over  three  times ;  the  first  time  I  have 
no  manner  of  an  idea,  more  than  if  he  spoke  Choctaw ;  the  second, 
I  catch  now  and  then  a  word ;  by  the  third  time  I  begin  to  un- 
derstand." And  while  his  elder  brother  was  sharing  in  the  first 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  385 

honors  of  his  class  at  college,  and  his  elder  sisters  amusing  them- 
selves in  writing  poetry  and  enjoying  the  pleasure  of  Litchfteld 
society,  this  unpromising  boy  went  to  school  barefooted  in  a  little 
old  school-house,  and  (says  his  sister  Harriet)  "  with  a  brown 
towel,  or  a  blue  checked  apron,  to  hem  during  the  intervals 
between  his  spelling  and  reading  lessons."  And  yet,  with  all 
his  apparent  stupidity,  Henry  was  not  destitute  of  serious 
thought.  When  once  driving  his  step-mother  on  an  errand,  in 
an  old  chaise,  the  town-bell  tolled  for  the  death  of  one  of  the 
inhabitants  ;  whereupon  she  said  to  the  thoughtful  boy,  "  Henry, 
what  do  you  think  of,  when  you  hear  a  bell  tolling  like  that?" 
Surprised  at  so  grave  a  question,  he  replied,  "  I  think,  Was  that 
soul  prepared  ?  It  has  gone  into  eternity  !  "  With  a  poor  mem- 
ory, he  disliked  to  study  and  commit  the  catechism,  although 
he  was  sure  of  being  seriously  talked  to  by  Mrs.  Beecher  if  he 
failed  to  recite  his  questions  well.  Thus  at  ten  years  of  age  he 
was  a  stout,  well-grown,  obedient  boy ;  and  although  backward  in 
learning,  he  was  very  fond  of  natural  scenery,  buds,  and  flowers, 
and  full  of  jokes  and  fun. 

At  twelve,  his  father  moved  to  Boston,  and,  shortly  after, 
Henry  Ward  was  sent  to  the  Boston  Latin  school,  where,  urged 
by  a  sense  of  self-respect  and  regard  to  his  father's  entreaties,  he 
set  out  to  study  in  earnest,  and  completely  mastered  the  Latin 
Grammar  the  first  year.  But  hard  study  seemed  to  injure  his 
health,  and  having  become  somewhat  gloomy  and  dissatisfied  at 
school,  his  father  thought  it  best  to  divert  his  attention  a  little 
from  his  studies,  and  suggested  a  course  of  biographical  reading. 
Delighted  with  this,  after  having  read  a  few  naval  histories,  and 
the  accounts  of  noted  voyages,  great  commanders  and  sailors,  he 
made  up  his  mind  to  leave  Boston,  and  "  go  to  sea."  Having 
heard  of  this  project,  his  father  made  use  of  it  as  an  argument  to 
induce  Henry  to  go  to  school,  and  study  mathematics  as  a  pre- 
paration for  his  newly  devised  scheme.  Although  he  had  no 
taste  for  mathematics,  yet  being  enthusiastic  for  the  sea,  he  went 
to  Amherst,  and  studied  algebra,  geometry,  etc.,  with  a  good 
degree  of  success.  Here,  too,  he  was  thoroughly  drilled  in  the 
26 


386  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

principles  of  elocution  by  Professor  J.  E.  Lovell,  to  which  Mr. 
Belcher  attributes  very  much  of  his  success  as  a  speaker. 

While  at  Amherst,  a  powerful  revival  of  religion  broke  out 
in  the  school,  and  Henry,  having  enjoyed  a  good  religious  train- 
ing, was  very  deeply  impressed.  Upon  hearing  of  this,  his  father 
wrote  for  him  to  come  home,  to  unite  with  the  church  at  an  ap- 
proaching communion,  at  which  the  anxious  boy,  with  a  trem- 
bling heart,  stood  up  and  took  upon  him  the  solemn  vows  of  the 
Church,  and,  for  the  first  time,  obeyed  the  solemn  injunction, 
"  Do  this  in  remembrance  of  me." 

From  this  time  on,  his  plans  and  purposes  of  life  were  changed 
—  his  naval  project  was  abandoned,  and  his  attention  was  turned 
to  the  pulpit. 

Having  spent  three  years  at  Amherst,  he  was  well  prepared  to 
enter  the  sophomore  class  at  college ;  yet  being  deeply  convinced 
of  the  importance  of  thoroughness,  his  kind  father,  in  order  to 
give  him  ample  time  for  general  reading,  wisely  advised  him  to 
enter  as  a  freshman.  Finding  but  little  attraction  in  Greek  and 
Latin,  or  mathematics,  though  quite  thorough  in  all  of  them,  he 
turned  his  attention  more  particularly  to  oratory  and  rhetoric, 
and  made  it  his  chief  business  to  learn  "what  to  say,"  and  "how 
to  say  it."  To  form  and  improve  his  style,  he  took  a  regular 
course  in  the  English  classics,  and  read  with  great  avidity  such 
authors  as  Milton,  Bacon,  Shakspeare,  Robert  Hall,  etc. 

Strictly  temperate  and  regular  in  his  habits,  the  new  convert 
was  regularly  at  the  class  prayer-meetings,  and  took  part  in  the 
exercises.  Fortunately  for  his  early  religious  development  while 
at  college,  he  became  intimately  acquainted  with  a  pious,  laborious 
student,  who  took  him  around  with  him  to  attend  the  prayer 
meetings  in  the  outskirts  of  the  village.  And  after  hearing 
Henry  read  and  pray  a  few  times,  the  exhorter  left  one  of  the 
prayer-meetings  in  his  care,  while  he  went  away  and  looked  up 
another.  With  this  little  foretaste  as  a  Christian  worker,  Henry 
went  on  in  the  good  work,  and,  aided  by  others,  kept  up  the 
prayer  meetings  all  through  his  college  course.  This  was  his 
beginning  as  a  speaker. 

During  his  sophomore  year,  Mr.  Beecher's  attention  was  in- 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  387 

eidently  directed  to  the  subject  of  phrenology ;  and  being  un- 
settled in  his  views  as  to  the  truth  of  this  science,  after  hearing 
a  few  lectures  on  it,  he  commenced  and  read  with  great  avidity 
everything  he  could  get  having  a  bearing  on  the  subject.  He 
and  his  associates  immediately  formed  a  society  for  physiological 
investigation.  They  bought  books,  charts,  dissecting  instru- 
ments, and  set  out  in  good  earnest  to  know  the  truth.  He  was 
so  enthusiastic  in  this  matter,  that  he  bought  several  books  for 
his  own  individual  use.  He  not  only  read  the  works  of  Drs. 
Gall,  Combe,  and  Spurzheim,  but  also  a  number  of  old  English 
authors,  besides  the  renowned  works  of  Locke,  Reid,  Stuart,  etc. 
The  taste  formed  by  Mr.  Beecher  in  this  physiological  and 
phrenological  research,  taken  in  connection  with  his  studies  in 
theology  and  metaphysics,  has  had  much  to  do  in  laying  the 
foundation  of  his  theory  and  views  through  life.  From  that  time 
forward  he  has  pursued  this  branch  of  study  with  deep  interest. 
And,  says  Mrs.  Stowe,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  many  facts 
in  this  sketch,  "  The  depth  of  Mr.  Beecher's  religious  nature  pre- 
vented this  enthusiasm  for  material  science  from  degenerating 
into  dry  materialism.  He  was  a  Calvinist  in  the  earnestness  of 
his  intense  need  of  the  highest  and  deepest  in  religion.  In  his 
sophomore  year  there  was  a  revival  of  religion  in  college,  in 
which  his  mind  was  powerfully  excited.  He  reviewed  the  almost 
childish  experiences  under  which  he  had  joined  the  church,  as 
possibly  deceptive,  and  tried  and  disciplined  himself  by  those 
profound  tests  with  which  the  Edwardarian  theology  had  filled  the 
minds  of  New  England.  A  blank  despair  was  the  result.  He 
applied  to  Dr.  Humphrey,  who  simply  told  him  that  his  present 
feelings  were  a  work  of  the  Spirit,  and  with  which  he  dared  not 
interfere.  After  days  of  almost  hopeless  prayer,  there  came  sud- 
denly into  his  mind  an  ineffable  and  overpowering  perception  of 
the  divine  love,  which  seemed  to  him  like  a  revelation.  It  dis- 
pelled all  doubts  and  fears ;  he  became  buoyant  and  triumphant, 
and  that  buoyancy  has  been  marked  in  his  religious  teachings 
ever  since." 

To  raise  money  to  purchase  a  library  of  much-desired  books, 
Mr.  Beecher,  during  his  last  two  years  at  college,  taught  country 


388  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

schools  during  the  long  winter  vacations ;  and  then,  as  now,  he 
was  a  great  worker.  "While  laboring  to  develop  the  intellectual 
powers  of  his  scholars,  he  was  not  indifferent  to  that  which  is 
more  important,  the  cultivation  of  the  heart.  Besides  delivering 
an  occasional  lecture  on  temperance,  he  made  his  appointments, 
and  went  regularly,  and  exhorted  and  preached  to  the  people. 
With  a  broad,  sympathetic  nature,  Mr.  Beecher  was  kind  to  the 
poor,  and  a  warm  friend  to  the  slave ;  and,  possessing  an  heroic 
spirit,  he  was  not  afraid,  in  the  early  anti-slavery  move,  to  be 
called  an  Abolitionist. 

Graduating  in  1834,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  soon 
after  commenced  the  study  of  theology  in  Lane  Seminary ;  and 
having  nearly  completed  the  course,  as  the  time  of  his  liPensure 
approached,  he  was  thrown  into  a  deep  feeling  of  melancholy, 
and  was  at  times  so  much  distressed  and  perplexed  about  entering 
upon  the  duties  of  the  sacred  office  that  he  seriously  thought  of 
abandoning  the  profession.  But  during  his  last  seminary  year 
he  took  a  Bible  class  in  Cincinnati,  and  while  studying  the 
evangelists,  in  preparing  his  lessons  for  the  class,  he  found  so 
much  to  think  and  preach  about,  his  difficulties  were  all  re- 
moved. 

Having  finished  his  theological  course,  Mr.  Beecher  got  mar- 
ried, and  immediately  took  charge  of  a  small  congregation  in 
Lawrenceburg,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Ohio  River,  near  Cincin- 
nati. In  one  of  his  speeches,  in  England,  he  gave  the  following 
account  of  his  commencing  there :  "  I  began  my  ministry  in  a 
church  in  the  wilderness ;  there  were  nineteen  women  and  one 
man,  and  I  wished  him  out  more  times  than  one ;  they  were 
the  saints,  and  he  the  sinner.  I  was  at  that  time  sexton  and 
general  undertaker  for  the  church  ;  I  swept  it ;  I  bought  the 
lamps,  and  lit  them  •  I  would  have  rung  the  bell,  but  there  was 
none.  I  did  the  preaching,  was  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath 
school,  and  did  everything  else  there  was  to  do;  and  though 
many  years  have  passed,  and  I  have  seen  other  scenes,  I  have 
never  had  happier  days  since."  After  laboring  a  short  time  at 
Lawrenceburg,  he  accepted  a  call  and  moved  to  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  wLere  he  labored  with  great  success,  devoting  three  months 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  389 

of  each  year  to  missionary  work,  in  travelling  about  from  place 
to  place,  on  horseback,  preaching  once  every  day.  In  studying 
theology,  he  paid  special  attention  to  the  Bible  and  to  human 
nature  —  a  knowledge  of  both  he  held  to  be  necessary  to  under- 
stand either ;  and,  in  sermonizing,  he  studied  closely  the  style 
and  principles  of  the  sermons  of  the  apostles,  and  endeavored 
to  imitate  them.  Full  of  wit  and  humor,  and  possessing  fine 
social  qualities  and  a  great  tact  for  close  observation,  he  possessed 
an  ability  to  analyze  man's  wants  and  a  genius  to  know  how  to 
meet  them,  rarely  attained  by  one  so  young.  Unique  and  attrac- 
tive in  his  style  of  preaching,  and  drawing  largely,  both  for  matter 
and  illustrations,  from  unexplored  fields,  his  popularity  spread 
abroad,  and  the  people  flocked  to  hear  him  wherever  he  went. 

During  a  powerful  revival  that  took  place  in  his  congregation 
in  Indianapolis,  in  1842,  a  member  of  that  church  says,  "The 
whole  town  was  pervaded  by  the  influences  of  religion,  and 
nearly  one  hundred  persons  were  added  to  the  church."  And 
Mr.  Beecher  was  seen  "  plunging  through  the  wet  streets,  with 
his  trowsers  stuffed  in  his  muddy  boots,  earnest,  untiring,  swift, 
with  a  merry  heart,  a  glowing  face,  and  a  helpful  word  for  every 
one ;  the  whole  day  preaching  Christ  to  the  people,  wherever  he 
could  find  them." 

During  a  pastorate  of  eight  years  in  Indianapolis,  the  church 
was  very  much  strengthened  financially,  and  increased  from 
thirty-two  to  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  members ;  and  al- 
though there  existed  a  very  strong  mutual  attachment  between 
pastor  and  people,  yet,  having  received  a  call  to  a  much  wider 
sphere  of  usefulness  from  the  Plymouth  Congregational  Church, 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  he  accepted  it,  and  moved  thither  in  the 
summer  of  1847,  where  he  has  labored  with  very  great  success 
ever  since.  His  church  now  numbers  over  two  thousand  mem- 
bers, and  pays  him  a  salary  of  twenty  thousand  dollars.  In  this 
move,  Mr.  Beecher  changed  his  ecclesiastical  connection  from  the 
Presbyterian  to  the  Congregational  Church. 

Mr.  Beecher's  fine  colloquial  powers,  his  broad,  impartial 
sympathy  and  kindness,  and  his  thorough  knowledge  of  human 
nature  gave  him  access  to  the  hearts  of  all  classes ;  he  had  warm 


390  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

friends  in  every  grade  of  society.  When  living  in  Indianapolis, 
he  commanded  the  respect  even  of  the  drunkard  and  the 
gambler ;  and  when  he  left  there,  some  of  this  class  gave  him 
the  strongest  demonstrations  of  respect  and  attachment.  Some 
of  those  whom  he  had  tried  to  reclaim,  seemed  to  have  gone 
beyond  redemption ;  and  one  of  them,  when  Mr.  Beecher  was 
about  to  leave  the  city,  said,  "  Before  anything  or  anybody  on 
earth,  I  do  love  Beecher ;  I  know  he  would  have  saved  me,  if 
he  could." 

During  the  heated  anti-slavery  discussions,  Mr.  Beecher  al- 
ways took  decided  grounds  in  favor  of  emancipation ;  and  when 
the  rebellion  arose,  he  heartily  went  in  for  putting  it  down  at  all 
hazards.  Encouraged  by  their  pastor,  his  congregation  raised  and 
equipped  one  regiment  of  volunteers  (the  First  Long  Island),  and 
many  of  the  young  men  of  the  congregation  joined  it.  Deeply 
interested  in  their  welfare,  Mr.  Beecher  often  went  out  and 
preached  to  them  while  in  camp  before  they  started  for  the  field. 
Mr.  Beecher  labored  very  hard  during  the  war;  and,  having 
much  to  say  to  the  public  in  connection  therewith,  he  assumed 
the  editorial  chair  of  the  Independent  early  in  the  conflict.  Bur- 
dened with  the  war  and  the  cares  of  his  country,  together  with 
his  incessant  labors  in  writing,  speaking,  and  editing,  his  health 
and  voice  began  to  fail,  and  he  sought  relaxation  in  a  trip  to 
Europe.  Here  he  was  met  by  friends,  before  he  stepped  off  the 
steamer,  urging  him  to  consent  to  lecture  ;  but  he  positively  de- 
clined. Having  spent  a  few  days  in  England,  and  some  two 
weeks  in  Wales,  he  visited  Switzerland,  Germany,  and  Northern 
Italy.  At  Paris  he  was  much  encouraged  in  receiving  the  news 
of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  and  found 
in  those  great  victories  the  only  kind  of  logic  and  argument  that 
would  successfully  carry  the  cause  of  America  through  Great 
Britain  and  Europe. 

On  returning  to  England,  he  was  again  invited  to  speak,  and 
again  declined ;  but  upon  the  repeated  solicitation  of  such  men  as 
Newman  Hall,  Baptist  Noel,  and  Francis  Newman,  constrained 
by  a  sense  of  duty  to  his  country,  and  our  friends  over  there,  he 
at  last  consented,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  him  to  lecture 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  391 

in  the  principal  cities  of  the  Kingdom.  And  now,  realizing  his 
great  responsibility,  and  conscious  of  the  difficult  task  he  had 
undertaken,  to  plead  the  cause  of  his  country  in  a  foreign  land, 
he  set  about  preparing  for  the  arduous  work.  Thus  armed  and 
equipped  in  the  great  cause  of  American  nationality  and  American 
liberty,  he  delivered  his  first  speech  in  the  Free  Trade  Hall,  in 
Manchester,  October  9,  1863,  to  a  tumultuous  crowd  of  some  six 
or  seven  thousand.  Taking  for  his  subject  the  merits  of  the 
American  cause  and  the  rights  of  the  laboring  man,  he  went  on  to 
show  that  the  Southern  Confederacy  was  founded  upon  the  false 
principle  that  a  strong  and  superior  race  has  a  right  to  oppress  a 
weak  and  inferior  one.  And  although  Southern  sympathizers 
did  rail,  and  rant,  and  make  great  efforts  to  cry  him  down,  and 
prevent  his  speaking ;  yet,  with  a  buoyant  heart  and  a  resolute 
will,  he  went  on  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  and  completed  his 
speech ;  and  the  London  Times  did  him  the  honor  of  publishing 
it  the  next  day.  Thus  ended  his  first  effort. 

On  the  13th  of  October  he  spoke  again  in  the  City  Hall  of 
Glasgow,  and  discussed  the  comparative  advantages  of  free  over 
slave  labor.  The  next  day  he  spoke  to  a  very  large  meeting  in 
the  Free  Church  Assembly  Hall  in  Edinburgh,  and  gave  them 
ail  historic  outline  of  the  American  conflict.  But  the  severest 
struggle  and  the  most  disorderly  audience  was  at  Liverpool. 
This  place  being  more  pro-slavery,  the  opposition  was  found  to 
be  more  formidable »  yet,  with  undaunted  spirit  and  unyielding 
pertinacity,  Mr.  Beecher  braved  the  storm  and  delivered  his  mes- 
sage. In  describing  the  difficulty  in  speaking  to  these  turbulent 
assemblies,  Mr.  Beecher  says,  "  I  had  to  outscream  a  mob,  and 
drown  the  roar  of  a  multitude.  It  was  like  driving  a  team  of 
runaway  horses,  and  making  love  to  a  lady  at  the  same  time." 

The  following  letter  breathes  so  much  of  the  spirit  of  Chris- 
tianity in  the  war,  it  will  doubtless  be  read  with  deep  interest : 

"LONDON,  Sunday,  October  18,  1863. 

"My  DEAR  FRIEND  —  You  know  why  I  have  not  written 
you  from  England.  I  have  been  so  full  of  work  that  I  could 
not.  God  has  been  with  me,  and  prospered  me.  I  have  had 
health,  and  strength,  and  courage,  and,  what  is  of  unspeakably 


392  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

more  importance,  I  have  had  the  sweetest  experience  of  love  to 
God  and  to  man,  of  all  my  life.  I  have  been  enabled  to  love  our 
enemies.  .  .  .  God  awakened  in  my  breast  a  desire  to  be  a  full  and 
true  Christian  toward  England  the  moment  I  put  my  foot  on 
her  shores,  and  he  has  answered  the  prayers  which  he  inspired. 
I  have  been  buoyant  and  happy.  The  streets  of  Manchester  and 
Liverpool  have  been  filled  with  placards  in  black  and  white  let- 
ters, full  of  all  lies  and  bitterness ;  but  they  have  seemed  to  me  only 
the  tracery  of  dreams.  For  hours  I  have  striven  to  speak  amid 
interruptions  of  every  kind  — yellings,  hootings,  catcalls,  derisive 
yells,  impertinent  and  insulting  questions,  and  every  conceivable 
annoyance — some  personal  violence.  But  God  has  kept  me  in 
perfect  peace.  I  stood  in  Liverpool  and  looked  on  the  demoniac 
scene,  almost  without  a  thought  that  it  was  me  that  was  present. 
.  .  .  You  know,  dear  friend,  how,  when  were  are  lifted  up  by  the 
inspiration  of  a  great  subject,  and  by  the  almost  visible  presence 
and  vivid  sympathy  with  Christ,  the  mind  forgets  the  sediment 
and  dregs  of  trouble,  and  sails  serenely  in  an  upper  realm  of 
peace,  as  untouched  by  the  noise  below,  as  a  bird  that  flies  across 
a  battle-field.  Just  so  I  had,  at  Liverpool  and  Glasgow,  as  sweet 
an  inward  peace  as  ever  I  had  in  the  loving  meetings  of  dear  old 
Plymouth  Church.  And  again  and  again,  when  the  uproar  raged, 
and  I  could  not  speak,  my  heart  seemed  to  be  taking  of  the  in- 
finite fulness  of  the  Saviour's  pity,  and  breathing  it  out  upon 
those  poor,  troubled  men.  I  felt  that  I  was  his  dear  child,  and 
that  his  arms  were  about  me  continually,  and  at  times  that  peace 
that  passeth  all  understanding  has  descended  upon  me,  that  I 
could  not  keep  tears  of  gratitude  from  falling  for  so  much  tender 
goodness  of  my  God.  For,  what  are  outward  prosperities  com- 
pared with  those  interior  intimacies  of  God?  It  is  not  the  path 
to  the  temple,  but  the  interior  of  the  temple,  that  shows  the  good- 
ness and  glory  of  God.  And  I  have  been  able  to  commit  all  to 
Him,  myself,  my  family,  my  friends,  and  in  a  special  manner  the 
cause  of  my  country.  Oh,  my  friend,  I  have  felt  an  inexpressible 
wonder  that  God  should  give  it  to  me  to  do  something  for  the 
dear  land ;  when  sometimes  the  idea  of  being  clothed  with  power 
to  stand  up  in  this  great  kingdom'  against  an  inconvinceable  vio- 
lence of  prejudice  and  mistake,  and  clear  the  name  of  my  dis- 
honored country,  and  let  her  brow  shine  forth,  crowned  with 
liberty,  glowing  with  love  to  man — oh,  I  have  seemed  unable  to 
live,  almost !  It  almost  took  my  breath  away. 

"  I  have  not  in  a  single  instance  gone  to  the  speaking  halls 
without  all  the  way  breathing  to  God  unutterable  desires  for 


CHRISTIANITY     IN    THE    WAR.  393 

inspiration,  guidance,  success ;  and  I  have  had  no  disturbance 
of  personality.  I  have  been  willing,  yea,  with  eagerness,  to  be 
myself  contemptible  in  men's  sight,  if  only  my  disgrace  might  be 
to  the  honor  of  that  cause  which  is  intrusted  to  our  own  thrice 
dear  country.  I  have  asked  nothing  of  God  but  this,  and  this 
with  uninterrupted  heart-flow  of  yearning  request :  '  Make  me 
worthy  to  speak  for  God  and  man/  I  never  felt  my  ignorance 
so  painfully,  nor  the  great  want  of  moral  purity  and  nobility  of 
soul,  as  when  approaching  my  tasks  of  defending  liberty  in  this 
her  hour  of  trial.  I  have  an  ideal  of  what  a  man  should  be  that 
labors  for  such  a  cause,  that  constantly  rebukes  my  real  condition 
and  makes  me  feel  how  little  I  am.  Yet  that  is  hardly  painful. 
There  passes  before  me  a  view  of  God's  glory,  so  pure,  so  serene, 
uplifted,  filling  the  ages,  and  more  and  more  to  be  revealed,  that 
I  almost  wish  to  lose  my  identity,  to  be  like  a  drop  of  dew  that 
falls  into  the  sea,  and  becomes  a  part  of  the  sublime  whole  that 
glows  under  every  line  of  latitude,  and  sounds  on  every  shore ! 
'That  God  may  be  all  in  all!'  that  is  not  a  prayer  only,  but  a 
personal  experience.  And  in  all  this  time  I  have  not  had 
one  unkind  feeling  toward  a  single  human  being ;  even  those, 
who  are  opposers,  I  have  pitied  with  undying  compassion ;  and 
enemies  around  me  have  seemed  harmless  and  objects  of  charity 
rather  than  potent  foes  to  be  destroyed.  God  be  thanked,  who 

giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 

"  I  am,  as  ever,  yours,  H.  W.  BEECHER." 

Mr.  Beecher  spoke  again,  October  20,  in  Exeter  Hall,  London, 
and,  in  describing  the  meeting,  he  said  :  "  It  was  a  very  fit  close 
to  a  series  of  meetings  that  have  produced  a  great  sensation  in 
England.  The  enthusiasm  was  almost  wild  and  fanatical.  I  was 
like  to  have  been  killed  with  people  pressing  to  shake  my  hand." 
The  press  was  so  great,  and  "the  affectionate  enthusiasm"  so 
strong,  that  the  police  came  to  his  rescue,  and  conveyed  him  into 
the  retiring-room,  where  many  gentlemen  brought  their  wives, 
sons,  and  daughters  for  a  "  God  bless  you ! "  from  the  distin- 
guished orator  and  patriot. 

These  meetings  made  a  very  favorable  impression  upon  Eng- 
land and  Scotland  in  favor  of  the  American  cause,  and,  no 
doubt,  did  much  to  prevent  their  interfering  in  behalf  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy.  Mr.  Scott,  (the  Chamberlain  of  London,) 
the  president  of  the  meeting  in  Exeter  Hall,  said  that  a  few 


394  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

more  such  meetings  "in  some  other  parts  of  England,  and 
the  question  would  be  settled."  In  the  successful  delivery  of 
these  powerful,  impressive  speeches  amid  such  strong,  combined 
opposition,  we  see  in  a  most  striking  manner  the  lofty  patriotism, 
the  great  energy,  and  indomitable  perseverance  of  Mr.  Beecher. 
In  speaking  of  it,  he  says,  "I  thought  I  had  been  through  fur- 
naces before,  but  this  ordeal  surpassed  all  others.  I  was  quite 
alone  in  England ;  I  had  no  one  to  consult  with  ;  I  felt  the 
burden  of  having  to  stand  for  my  country  in  a  half-hostile  land ; 
and  yet  I  never  flinched  for  a  moment  or  lost  heart." 

Although  Mr.  Beecher  did  not  go  to  the  front,  and  labor  and 
preach  much  to  the  army  in  the  field,  yet  his  incessant  labors  at  home 
in  prosecuting  the  war,  had  much  to  do  in  quelling  the  rebellion. 
He  made  balls,  and  others  threw  them ;  he  preached  war-sermons 
at  home  that  encouraged  the  soldiers  to  fight  hard  on  the  fields. 
And  upon  the  fall  of  Richmond,  and  Lee's  surrender —  as  the  flag 
of  the  nation  had  been  traitorously  stricken  down  from  the  battle- 
ments of  Fort  Sumter,  April  14,  1861  —  as  a  fitting  emblem 
of  the  nation's  restored  sovereignty,  the  same  flag  was  again,  by 
the  direction  of  the  Government,  with  appropriate  religious  and 
military  ceremonies  and  rejoicings,  unfurled  over  the  same  fort, 
on  the  same  day  of  the  same  month,  (1865);  and  Mr.  Beecher  was 
invited  by  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War  to  deliver  an  ora- 
tion on  the  important  occasion ;  and,  as  he  drew  to  a  close  in  his 
speech,  he  uttered  the  following  significant  words :  "  From  this 
pulpit  of  broken  stones  we  speak  forth  our  earnest  greetings  to 
all  our  land :  we  offer  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  our 
solemn  congratulations  that  God  has  sustained  his  life  and  health 
under  the  unparalleled  burdens  and  sufferings  of  four  bloody 
years,  and  permitted  him  to  behold  this  auspicious  consummation 
of  that  national  unity  for  which  he  has  waited  with  so  much 
patience  and  fortitude,  and  for  which  he  has  labored  with  such 
disinterested  wisdom  and  self-denial."  And  scarcely  had  these 
memorable  words  of  congratulation  passed  the  lips  of  the  patriotic 
orator,  before  the  cruel  assassin's  ball  had  pierced  the  head  of  the 
noble  President,  and  thus  most  suddenly  turned  the  nation's 
highest  joy  into  the  deepest  mourning. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  395 


DWIGHT  L.  MOODY. 

Power  of  Individual  Effort  —  Earnestness  the  Secret  of  Success  —  A 
Great  Want  —  The  Church  and  the  World  Asleep  —  His  Birth  — 
Lay-preaching  Encouraged  —  Paul's  Great  Success  —  Labor,  Labor!  — 
Moody's  Early  Eeligious  Views  —  His  Conversion  —  Joins  the  Con- 
gregation alists  —  Education  Limited  —  His  Labors  Successful  —  A 
Great  Worker  in  Sabbath  Schools  —  Organized  Mission  Sunday  School 
in  Chicago  —  Its  Growth  —  Started  Prayer  Meetings  —  Labors  Blessed  — 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  Begun  —  Daily  Prayer  Meeting  — 
His  Trust  in  God  for  a  Living  —  No  Salary  —  His  Active  Labors  in 
the  Army  —  His  Zeal  at  the  Battle  of  Fort  Donelson  —  Goes  to  God 
for  Direction  —  Efficient  in  Building  —  Calls  to  go  Abroad  —  Crosses 
the  Atlantic  —  Organized  Daily  Prayer  Meeting  in  London  —  Labors 
in  Sunday-School  Conventions  —  Successful  —  Deeds,  not  Words,  a  True 
Sign  of  Principle  —  His  Success  as  an  Organizer ;  as  a  Speaker  ;  as  a 
Revivalist  —  How  he  "  Got  up  a  Revival "  —  His  Large  Audiences  in 
Chicago  —  His  Popularity  at  Home  —  His  Personal  Influence  over 
Others. 

IT  is  wonderful  what  good  one  man  can  do,  when  he  sets  him- 
self about  it  earnestly.  Earnestness  is  the  great  secret  of 
success.  One  devoted,  earnest  Christian  will  do  more  good  than 
twenty  of  the  common  run.  Why  were  such  men  as  George 
Whitefield,  John  Calvi,n,  and  John  Wesley  so  eminently'  success- 
ful ?  It  was  because  of  their  whole-hearted  earnestness.  Why 
was  Paul  more  successful  than  other  apostles?  Because  "he 
labored  more  abundantly  than  they  all."  Whence  Mr.  Moody's 
great  success  ?  According  to  his  own  words,  it  would  seem  to  lay 
in  his  earnest,  entire  consecration  to  the  Master's  cause.  Paul 
says,  "  Give  thyself  wholly  to  these  things."  Moody  said,  early 
in  his  Christian  labors,  "  I  have  decided  to  give  God  all  my  time." 
Full,  entire,  unreserved  consecration  is  the  great  lack  of  the 
church,  and  the  great  want  of  the  world.  One-half  of  the  world 
and  one-half  of  the  church  is  more  than  half  asleep  all  the  time. 
The  Lord  says,  "  Awake,  awake,  put  on  thy  strength."  The 
power  of  earnestness  is  great.  It  is  felt,  not  only  in  the  additional 
good  accomplished  directly  by  it  through  the  earnest  individual, 
but  also  in  the  influence  it  exerts  upon  others.  The  very  sight  of 
an  earnest  man  is  stirring  and  rousing. 


396  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Dwight  L.  Moody  was  born  in  Northfield,  Mass.,  February  5, 
1837.  He  is,  therefore,  comparatively  but  a  young  man,  and, 
with  a  beginning  so  fair,  encouraging,  and  successful,  he  has 
every  reason  earnestly  to  go  forward,  continuing  to  give  all  his 
time  to  God  in  winning  souls  to  Christ. 

The  church,  it  would  seem,  has  just  entered  upon  an  age  of 
lay -preaching;  and  with  the  renowned  lay -preacher  Richard 
Weaver  in  the  Old  World,  and  with  our  distinguished  lay-preachers 
in  the  New,  crowned  with  so  much  success,  the  present  prospects 
for  more  lay-labor  are  very  encouraging.  The  Apostle  Paul  was 
a  lay-preacher.  He  had  no  theological  training  nor  ecclesiastical 
ordination,  save  the  receiving  of  a  new  heart  and  a  subdued  will. 
Soon  as  he  was  put  through  "  the  washing  of  regeneration,"  he  earn- 
estly cried,  "  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do?"  and  filled  and 
fired  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  straightway  went  forth  preaching 
Christ  crucified ;  and,  with  his  deep,  logical  arguments  and  pow- 
erful, moving  eloquence,  he  made  kings  and  emperors  tremble 
upon  their  thrones,  and,  for  the  salvation  of  the  world  and  the 
glory  of  God,  accomplished  a  work  second  to  no  man. on  earth. 
Then  let  the  lay-preacher  be  encouraged.  Let  Zion  arise,  and 
shake  herself  from  the  dust,  until  every  remnant  of  latent  power 
shall  be  fully  developed  and  called  forth  to  the  most  lively 
action.  God  says,  "  Go,  LABOR  IN  MY  VINEYARD." 

Born  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  the  stronghold  of  Unitari- 
anism  in  the  United  States,  Mr.  Moody  was  brought  up  to  that 
doctrine,  until  his  conversion,  when  he  became  a  Congregationalist. 
Of  his  parents  we  know  nothing,  and,  with  but  a  limited  educa- 
tion, constrained  by  a  Saviour's  love,  he  has  gone  forth  sowing 
precious  seed,  which,  we  believe,  has  produced  an  abundant 
harvest,  as  history,  and  the  following  extract  by  J.  F.  B.,  from 
The  National  Sunday -School  Teacher,  edited  by  Rev.  Dr.  Eggleston 
of  Chicago,  will  clearly  show  :  « 

"  Fourteen  years  ago,  I  met  a  young  man,  and  was  told  he  was 
a  clerk  in  a  wholesale  boot  and  shoe  house ;  had  recently  come 
from  Boston.  He  came  into  our  school,  Sabbath  morning,  seemed 
much  interested,  and  talked  of  work.  Soon  after,  I  met  him,  and 
learned  that  he  had  been  visiting  on  the  North  Side,  and  had 


CHRISTIANITY     IN    THE    WAR.  397 

found  great  destitution.  He  said,  'I  have  promised  to  commence 
a  Sabbath  school  there.'  This  was  in  the  days  when  the  '  Sands' 
were  the  '  Five  Points '  of  Chicago.  A  few  weeks  later,  the  ( North 
Market  Hall  Sabbath-School '  was  an  established  fact.  Similarity 
of  work  brought  us  often  together;  and  in  'an  exchange,'  when 
he  came  one  evening  to  speak  at  our  mission,  I  learned  his  early 
history.  He  came  to  Chicago,  September,  1856,  a  young  man,  and 
a  young  Christian.  He  desired  to  work  for  God.  He  said,  '  I  ap- 
plied to  the  superintendent  of  a  mission  Sunday-school  for  a  class, 
(there  were  only  three  mission  schools  in  the  city ;)  but  I  was  told 
they  had  a  full  supply  of  teachers.  I  went  to  another  school,  and 
found  twelve  teachers  and  sixteen  scholars.  I  was  told  if  I  would 
gather  a  class  I  might  teach  it.'  The  next  Sabbath  he  came  with 
eighteen  boys. 

"  Then  he  commenced  the ( North  Market  Hall  Mission  School.' 
The  old  Market  Hall  was  generally  used  for  a  dancing  hall  on 
Saturday  nights  ;  and  on  Sabbath  it  took  most  of  the  forenoon  to 
clean  out  the  sawdust,  and  wash  up  the  beer  and  tobacco  filth. 
Here  the  school  was  held  for  over  six  years.  The  growth  con- 
tinued until  over  one  thousand  were  enrolled.  Of  the  countless 
incidents,  the  encouragements  and  discouragements,  we  cannot 
speak ;  but  there  was  an  auxiliary  work,  and  another  room.  Find- 
ing it  almost  impossible  to  conduct  a  prayer  meeting  or  Sabbath 
evening  service  in  the  hall,  Mr.  Moody  rented  a  room  used  for  a 
saloon ;  boarded  up  the  side  windows,  and  seated  it  with  unpaiuted 
pine  seats.  It  was  small,  (seating  about  two  hundred ;)  it  was  dark, 
it  was  unventilated ;  it  was  necessary  to  have  policemen  to  watch 
and  guard  the  place  during  service.  And  here  Mr.  Moody  met 
those  young  men  and  women,  night  after  night,  year  after  year. 
But  much  more  than  this :  here  the  blessed  Lord  met  hardened 
sinners,  and  here  his  rich  grace  was  abundantly  given.  Thi* 
'vill  doubtless  fall  under  the  notice  of  many  a  child  of  God,  whose 
eyes  will  moisten,  and  heart  grow  warm,  as  they  remember  that 
these  rude  benches  were  a  '  mercy-seat '  to  them,  and  this  rough 
room  '  the  gate  of  heaven.' 

"  In  1863,  the  building  on  Illinois  Street  was  erected.  Its  cost 
with  the  land  was  nearly  twenty  thousand  dollars.  It  was  all 


398  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAE. 

paid  for.  Here  the  work  -has  gone  forward,  the  school  has  not 
diminished,  and  here  a  church  of  three  hundred  souls  has  been 
gathered ;  a  few  have  joined  by  letter,  but  a  very  large  propor- 
tion have  been  converted  there.  Of  this  church  Mr.  Moody  is 
the  leader. 

"  The  great  work  of  God,  during  the  winter  of  1857-58,  led 
to  the  formation,  in  January  of  the  latter  year,  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association.  It  also  led  to  the  organization  of 
a  daily  union  prayer  meeting.  The  latter  was  held  in  Metro- 
politan Hall,  beginning  in  January,  and  was  attended  by  many 
hundreds.  In  April  the  number  had  become  small,  and  in  May 
it  was  moved  to  the  First  Baptist  Church,  corner  of  La  Salle  and 
Washington  Streets.  It  continued  to  decline  in  members,  and  was 
by  the  committee  turned  over  to  the  Association,  and  removed  to 
the  rooms  on  Randolph  Street.  Here  it  was  maintained  by  a  few 
brethren,  sometimes  not  more  than  three.  Mr.  Moody  commenced 
attending  this  meeting,  and  by  his  personal  efforts  it  began  to  in- 
crease, and  soon  the  attendance  averaged  fifty,  often  being  over 
one  hundred.  About  this  time,  Mr.  Moody  met  the  writer,  and 
said,  ' I  have  decided  to  give  God  all  my  time'  He  had  at  first 
given  his  evenings,  an  occasional  day,  and  the  Sabbath.  I  asked 
how  he  expected  to  live  ?  '  God  will  provide,  if  he  wishes  me  to 
keep  on ;  and  I  will  keep  on  until  I  am  obliged  to  stop,'  was  his 
reply.  From  that  day  to  this  he  has  never  had  a  salary  from  any 
individual  or  society.  The  breaking  out  of  the  war  brought  Mr. 
Moody  into  public  notice.  The  devotional  committee  of  the 
Association  of  which  he  was  a  member  was  made  'the  Army 
Committee,'  Mr.  J.  V.  Farwell  being  added  as  chairman.  The 
men,  to  fill  the  first  call  for  seventy-five  thousand,  were  so  quickly 
off,  that  only  a  fragmentary  effort  could  be  made.  But  the  first 
regiment  of  the  three  hundred  thousand  that  encamped  at  Camp 
Douglas  had  not  finished  the  shelter  for  their  first  night's  rest} 
when  a  part  of  that  committee  were  on  the  ground,  and  an  hour 
later  a  camp  prayer-meeting  was  in  progress.  Over  fifteen  hun- 
dred of  these  meetings  were  held.  Mr.  Moody  seemed  almost 
ubiquitous. 

"  The  news  of  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson  came,  and  among 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  399 

the  first  volunteers  to  go  and  succor  the  sufferers  were  Dr.  Robert 
Patterson  and  Mr.  Moody.  He  was  at  Shiloh,  at  Murfreesboro', 
with  the  army  at  Cleveland,  and  Chattanooga;  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  enter  Richmond,  ministering  to  friend  and  foe,  following 
Christ.  Though  so  often  absent  on  duty,  he  seemed  always  at 
home ;  his  presence  in  the  daily  meeting  was  a  felt  necessity. 

"The  Association  rooms  were  then  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  block,  small  and  overcrowded.  The  only  place  for  pri- 
vate prayer  was  a  dark  closet.  Coming  from  one  of  the  meet- 
ings, two  young  men,  with  Mr.  Moody,  sat  on  the  Clark  Street 
stairs  and  consulted  about  the  Association.  An  hour  later,  they 
were  in  that  closet  at  prayer.  In  a  safe  on  Water  Street  is  a 
paper  signed  by  each,  pledging  continuous  effort  for  a  building. 
Plan  after  plan  was  formed  and  abandoned.  One  day  a  young 
man  said,  '  The  only  way  to  get  a  building  is  to  elect  Mr.  Moody 
president  of  the  Association/ 

"  In  March  following,  he  was  elected.  At  the  annual  meeting 
a  plan  was  submitted,  the  following  spring  the  building  was  com- 
menced, and  in  September  it  was  finished.  For  four  years  he 
was  president,  and  then  was  chosen  first  vice-president  only  because 
he  would  no  longer  serve.  During  these  years,  his  record  has  not 
only  been  national,  but  it  has  spread  abroad.  District,  State,  and 
national  conventions  have  called  him  only  too  often  from  home. 
Twice  he  has  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  among  his  many  efforts 
in  Great  Britain,  he  was  permitted  to  organize  the  daily  union 
prayer-meeting  in  London. 

"  It  is  necessary  to  go  back  a  step  to  bring  up  the  Sunday- 
school  work  of  Mr.  Moody.  Our  State  Sunday-school  conventions 
had  been  much  as  others,  but  had  never  been  sources  of  religious 
power.  The  seventh  convention  was  to  be  held  in  Springfield. 
Mr.  Moody  presented  the  matter  to  several  brethren  in  different 
parts  of  the  State,  and  in  company  with  two  from  Chicago  took 
the  train  Friday  night,  and  arrived  in  Springfield  Saturday  morn- 
ing. The  convention  was  to  meet  on  Tuesday.  Saturday  was 
spent  in  visiting  brethren  there.  On  Sabbath  afternoon,  a  great 
meeting  was  held,  at  which  about  seventy  rose  for  prayers.  Sab- 
bath evening,  another ;  and  on  Monday,  at  8  A.  M.,  4  P.  M.,  and 


400  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

in  the  evening.  God  greatly  blessed  those  meetings,  and  they 
were  held  three  times  a  day,  during  the  convention,  with  blessed 
results.  Many  were  converted ;  the  delegates  caught  the  fire,  and 
the  influence  spread  over  the  State.  The  conventions  assumed 
new  shape  and  power,  until  the  last  one,  at  Quincy,  was  attended 
by  over  five  thousand  people. 

"  Mr.  Moody  was  president  of  the  State  Association  during  its 
eleventh  year.  His  help  at  the  conventions  in  many  other  States 
has  often  been  sought. 

"  The  open-air  meetings  with  the  soldiers  led  to  similar  meet- 
ings on  the  streets  during  our  State  and  county  conventions. 
The  results  from  one  of  these  will  illustrate  one  view  of  Mr. 
Moody's  character.  He  had  twice  been  invited  to  visit  one  of 
the  counties  in  this  State,  but  had  been  obliged  to  postpone  his 
visit.  Having  a  leisure  week  in  summer,  he  sent  word  to  some 
one  of  the  pastors  that  he  was  coming,  and  took  the  next  train. 

"  Arriving,  he  called  on  the  pastor.  Said  he,  *  I  'm  sorry  you 
have  come;  when  we  wrote  you,  all  seemed  fair  for  a  revival;  now 
all  promise  is  gone.'  He  called  on  another ;  he  said, '  You  might 
better  have  stayed  at  home;  winter  is  the  time;  in  summer 
people  are  too  busy.'  Mr.  Moody  persuaded  a  few  of  them  to  go 
with  him  to  the  corner  of  the  public  square.  He  tumbled  a  dry- 
goods  box  over  from  a  store  across  the  street,  and  began  to  speak. 
A  crowd  gathered,  they  listened  —  they  wept.  He  invited  all 
who  wished  to  go,  to  a  second  meeting  in  the  church  near  by. 
The  church  would  not  hold  all  who  followed.  Meetings  were 
continued.  A  gracious  revival  followed.  The  first  pastor  said, 
'  I  was  mistaken ;  the  Lord  knew  when  to  send.'  The  second 
said,  'I  see,  summer  is  just  the  time  for  a  revival.' 

"  Under  Mr.  Moody's  leadership,  such  meetings  have  been  held 
in  different  parts  of  the  city.  Some  of  our  best  workers  have 
been  converted  there.  The  violent  opposition  of  the  enemy  at  the 
central  meetings,  held  in  the  City  Hall  Square,  led  to  a  change 
of  place,  and  the  Association  lecture-room  was  chosen.  This  soon 
became  too  small ;  and  on  the  completion  of  our  second  building, 
meetings  were  held  on  Sabbath  nights  in  Farwell  Hall. 

"  Mr.  Moody  has  continued  to  speak  at  the  Illinois  Street 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  401 

Church,  Sabbath  morning ;  to  superintend  the  Sabbath -school  in 
the  afternoon,  and  to  speak  in  the  hall  in  the  evening.  His 
audience  there,  now,  averages  eight  hundred  —  oftentimes  more ; 
mostly  young  men.  Here,  as  everywhere,  and  always,  his  ser- 
vices are  given,  and  God  provides  in  his  own  way. 

"  The  friends  who  love  him  here,  now  insist  that  they  have 
the  privilege  of  replying  for  him,  to  invitations  to  labor  out  of 
the  city,  and  securing  a  just  acknowledgment  of  his  services. 

"  Even  this  hurried  sketch  would  be  incomplete  did  it  not  give 
some  account  of  the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  at  home.  It 
is  perhaps  the  best  evidence,  that  he  is  gladly  welcomed  to  most 
of  the  evangelical  pulpits  of  the  city'.  He  is  beloved  by  Sunday- 
school  workers,  and  respected  by  all.  That  he  has  enemies  and 
opposers  is  a  necessity.  Such  a  positive  life  for  Christ  must 
develop  the  positive  hostility  of  some.  That  this  is  often  the 
result  of  wrong  judgment,  one  illustration  will  show. 

"  One  day  the  writer  was  conversing  with  a  prominent  physi- 
cian about  Mr.  Moody,  when  the  doctor  avowed  his  dislike,  in 
the  most  decided  terms.  Some  months  afterward,  the  same  man 
called  and  said,  '  I  once  told  you  how  I  disliked  Mr.  Moody.  I 
now  wish  to  say  I  have  greatly  changed  my  opinion.'  Being 
asked  the  cause,  he  said, '  I  was  called  in  to  see  a  dying  woman 
who  had  led  a  life  of  shame.  She  gave  me  her  watch,  jewels,  and 
other  property,  and  asked  me  to  send  them  to  her  daughter,  in  a 
distant  place.  She  died.  I  wrote  the  daughter.  She  came  to 
the  city,  called,  gave  me  her  name  and  her  husband's  references, 
and  received  the  things.  Finding  her  respectable  and  lady-like, 
I  asked  her  how  she  escaped.  She  said,  "  I  was  a  little  girl;  we 
lived  on  the  North  Side.  I  went  to  Mr.  Moody's  Sunday  school, 
and  he  often  went  to  my  mother,  and  begged  her  to  send  me 
away  to  a  place  of  safety ;  and  his  earnest  entreaties  prevailed.  I 
was  sent.  I  owe  it  to  him."  The  doctor  added,  '  This  man  must 
be  a  Christian,  and  I  was  wrong.' 

"  In  his  home,  with  his  wife,  whose  gentleness  and  love  are 
among  God's  richest  gifts  to  him,  with  the  two  dear  children, 
Emma  and  Willie,  he  is  as  loving  and  tender  as  are  his  own 
xvarm  entreaties  to  sinners. 
26 


402  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

"  Of  his  personal  influence  over  others,  I  now  only  say  *t  has 
been  my  privilege  to  know  him  fourteen  years,  to  be  associated 
with  him  in  many  efforts  for  the  blessed  Master.  I  have  travelled, 
worked,  eaten,  slept,  talked,  studied,  prayed,  and  wept  with  him, 
and  the  man  who  has  most  influenced  my  life,  and,  under  God,  led 
me  to  try  and  live  for  Him,  is  D  WIGHT  L.  MOODY." 

A  man's  principles  and  zeal  in  a  cause  are  known  by  his  acts.  It 
matters  very  little  how  loud  a  profession  he  may  make,  unless  he 
lives  it  out.  Action,  not  profession — deeds,  not  words,  constitute  the 
only  true  sign  of  principle.  "  Even  a  child  is  known  by  his  doings." 
"By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  Woman's  attachment  to 
the  Saviour  is  seen  in  her  being  "last  at  the  cross  and  first  at  the 
tomb."  Mr.  Moody's  ardent  patriotism  and  strong  sympathy  for 
the  soldier  is  seen  in  his  being  one  of  the  first  to  volunteer  to  go 
down  and  take  care  of  the  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donel- 
son.  His  being  among  the  first  to  enter  fallen  Richmond  to 
dispense  the  blessings  of  the  gospel,  evinces  the  same  worthy 
principle. 

As  an  organizer,  Mr.  Moody  seems  to  excel.  On  May  10, 1864, 
he  organized  a  very  successful  daily  prayer  meeting  in  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  which  was  kept  up  until 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  resulted  in  much  good.  This,  toge- 
ther with  the  daily  prayer  meeting  in  London,  the  Sabbath  schools, 
meetings,  and  prayer  meetings  in  Chicago,  in  the  army,  and  in 
other  places,  he  has  organized,  attended  with  so  much  success, 
clearly  prove  his  zeal,  wisdom,  tact,  and  success  in  this  kind  of 
work. 

As  a  speaker  and  a  revivalist,  we  suppose,  he  has  but  few  equals 
among  the  laity  of  this  country.  To  be  able,  in  the  midst  of 
summer,  when  there  were  no  prospects  of  an  awakening,  by  one 
short  speech  made  at  the  corner  of  the  street  to  collect  a  large, 
attentive,  weeping  audience,  and  thus  "get  up  a  revival,"  as  they 
call  it,  proves  an  ability  and  genius  for  this  kind  of  labor  rarely 
excelled.  And  to  be  able  to  attract  an  audience  of  some  eight  or 
nine  hundred  every  Sabbath  in  such  a  city  of  churches  and  dis- 
tinguished preachers  as  Chicago,  denotes  a  power  of  attraction 
and  eloquence  very  rarely  attained  by  one  of  nothing  but  a 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  403 

common-school  education.  In  looking  over  the  reports  of  the 
Christian  Commission,  we  find  frequent  references  made  to  the 
labors  of  Mr.  Moody  among  the  soldiers,  which  we  might  here 
relate ;  but,  having  given  enough  to  answer  our  end,  we  close  this 
sketch  in  the  stirring  words  of  Solomon  :  "  Whatsoever  thy  hand 
findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might." 


GARRETSON  I.  YOUNG. 

Solemn  Warning  —  "  Be  Ye  also  Ready ! "  —  His  Birth  —  Parents  — 
Boyhood  —  Education  —  A  Diligent  Scholar  —  His  Academical  Course 
at  Calcutta,  Ohio  —  Enters  Jefferson  College  —  Graduates  —  His 
Habits  — Taught  High  School  —  Studies  and  Practises  Law  —  Elected 
Probate  Judge  —  A  Neat  Bookkeeper  —  Marries  —  Early  Religious 
Training  —  Read  the  Bible  Daily — Joins  the  Episcopal  Church  — 
His  Military  Position  —  Labors  in  War  Department  —  Resigns,  and 
Returns  Home  —  Purchased  "  The  Buckeye  State  "  —  Edits  it  —  His 
Success  —  Elected  to  the  Ohio  Legislature  —  His  Character  —  Patri- 
otic —  Winning  Ways  —  Noble  Traits  —  "  He  Made  Friends  Fast " — 
His  Sudden  Death  —  Impressive  Scene  at  the  Capitol ;  and  at  his 
Home  —  His  Funeral  —  Marked  Honors  Paid  him  by  the  Governor 
and  State  Legislature  —  Eulogies  by  the  Members. 

ONATCHED  away  almost  without  a  moment's  warning,  how 
*~J  solemn  and  impressive  is  the  admonition  to  his  relatives,  to 
his  friends,  and  to  the  Ohio  State  Legislature,  "Be  ye  also 
ready !  "  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God  I "  The  entrance  of  death 
within  the  portals  of  the  halls  of  legislation,  most  assuredly 
should  deeply  impress  every  reader  with  the  certainty  of  the 
divine  edict,  "  Dust  thou  art,  and  unto  dust  thou  shalt  return !  " 
Garretson  I.  Young  was  born  of  highly  respected  parents,  at 
Young's  Mills,  in  the  Valley  of  Achor,  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 
June  28,  1827.  His  mother  was  brought  up  a  Quaker;  but 
for  many  years  she  has  been  a  devotedly  pious  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  His  father  is  noted  for  uprightness  and  uni- 
formity of  character;  and  as  an  evidence  of  his  good  business 
qualifications  and  popularity  at  home,  he  was  elected  township 
clerk  twenty-one  years  in  succession.  Being  the  only  child,  Gar.- 


404  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

retson  was  the  object  of  much  kind  and  tender  parental  affection. 
He  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  in  the  Achor  district  school. 
Born  and  brought  up  in  the  same  neighborhood  with  myself,  I 
have  known  him  well  from  his  childhood.  The  writer  taught  him 
to  read,  write,  and  cipher.  Garretson  was  always  a  good  boy,  and 
the  boy  was  father  to  the  man.  He  went  through  the  arithmetic 
( The  Western  Calculator)  in  three  months,  when  he  was  only  about 
ten  years  old ;  he  was  always  a  diligent  student.  The  school  was 
taught  in  a  little  old  log  school-house  near  the  village  of  Achor. 
Although  his  father  was  a  miller,  Garretson  never  seemed  to 
have  much  taste  for  that  kind  of  business ;  and  having  obtained 
a  good  district-school  education,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  com- 
menced a  course  of  academical  study  in  the  High  School  at  Cal- 
cutta, Ohio ;  boarding  with  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Hoffstot.  Here  he  re- 
mained at  school  some  four  years,  excepting  a  few  months  which 
he  spent  in  teaching ;  here  he  and  I  recited  Greek  and  Latin  to 
S.  W.  Gilson,  Esq.,  and  enjoyed  many  seasons  of  pleasant  memory ; 
here,  too,  Mr.  Young  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a  large  circle  of 
interesting,  worthy  young  ladies,  whose  society  he  often  enjoyed 
with  much  pleasure  and  profit,  and  with  some  of  whom  he  whiled 
away  the  shades  of  many  an  evening. 

Having  completed  his  academical  course,  he  entered  Jefferson 
College,  Canonsburg,  Pa.,  in  the  fall  of  1846,  where  he  soon 
made  many  warm  friends,  rose  in  standing  and  influence,  and 
graduated  with  honor  and  distinction  in  1848.  In  the  college 
there  were  two  large  rival  literary  societies,  with  one  of  which 
almost  every  student  in  college  was  connected.  Mr.  Young  be- 
longed to  the  Franklin  Society,  and,  having  been  elected  secretary 
of  the  same  the  last  term  of  the  year,  he  had  the  honor  of  offi- 
cially signing  the  diplomas  of  the  graduating  class.  Mr.  Young 
was  a  very  fine  penman ;  he  excelled  in  pictorial  penmanship, 
and  I  have  always  thought  more  of  my  college  diploma  because 
he  wrote  my  name  on  it.  As  a  student,  he  was  diligent  and 
methodical ;  he  had  a  time  for  study,  and  a  time  for  every  de- 
partment of  business.  Preferring  the  languages  to  mathematics, 
He  excelled  in  the  classics ;  and.  proficient  as  a  scholar,  he  was 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  405 

selected  uy  the  faculty  of  the  college  to  deliver  an  oration  on 
commencement  day. 

With  his  diplomas  in  his  pocket,  and  bidding  a  long  farewell 
to  his  friends  at  college,  he  hastened  to  see  his  beloved  parents 
at  their  beautiful  home  in  Achor.  After  a  short  rest,  and 
having  visited  his  friends  at  Calcutta,  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing in  the  Cottage  Hill  Academy,  Ellsworth,  Ohio ;  where  he 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1849,  when  he  commenced  the  study 
of  law  under  Hon.  S.  W.  Gilson,  of  Canfield,  Ohio,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1851,  and  at  once  entered  into  partnership 
and  practised  with  his  preceptor. 

Appreciated  for  his  uprightness,  and  valued  for  his  good 
judgment,  in  the  fall  of  1854,  he  was  elected  probate  judge  of 
Mahoning  County ;  and  having  given  such  general  satisfaction, 
at  the  expiration  of  three  years  he  was  re-elected,  and  faith- 
fully discharged  the  duties  of  that  important  office  for  six  years. 
Like  his  father  before  him,  Judge  Young  had  a  fine  tact  for 
drawing  up  instruments  of  writing.  Pleasing  in  his  manners, 
order,  exactness,  and  neatness  were  prominent  traits  in  his  char- 
acter. The  records  of  his  office  while  probate  judge,  said  Judge 
Johnson,  of  Ohio,  are  "  models  of  neatness."  Mr.  Young  was  a 
fine  epistolary  writer.  His  letters  were  always  rich  and  spicy. 

Conscious  that  "  it  is  not  good  that  man  should  be  alone,"  and 
having  arrived  to  the  mature  age  of  nearly  thirty  years,  Judge 
Young  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  Bingham,  of  Ellsworth,  Ohio, 
on  the  27th  day  of  March,  1856. 

Blessed  with  the  good  example  of  a  pious  mother  and  an 
honest  father,  Mr.  Young  enjoyed  a  good,  religious  training. 
While  at  home,  he  usually  attended  the  Baptist  church,  and  sat 
under  the  faithful  ministrations  of  the  pious  Rev.  Reece  Davis. 
While  attending  the  academy  at  Calcutta,  he  attended  the  Presby- 
terian church,  and  sat  under  the  able  ministrations  of  the  devoted 
Rev.  William  Reed  ;  here  he  attended  the  weekly  prayer  meeting 
and  Sabbath  school,  in  which  he  taught  a  class.  While  at  college, 
he  was  surrounded  by  similar  religious  influences,  and,  although 
more  exposed  to  temptation  there,  we  never  heard  an  evil  tiling 
of  him.  Being  very  deeply  impressed  with  the  doctrines  of  the 


406  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

Christian  religion,  and  having  a  very  high  regard  for  the  Bible, 
Mr.  Young  read  three  chapters  in  it  daily  during  his  student- 
life.  At  Canfield,  where  he  studied  and  practised  law,  the  same 
wholesome  checks  and  restraints  were  thrown  around  him,  all  of 
which,  blest  of  Heaven,  finally  resulted  in  an  open  profession  of 
his  faith  in  the  blessed  Saviour.  He  united  with  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  1855,  in  which  he  continued  an  active,  con- 
sistent member  until  his  death.  And  says  Dr.  Brooke,  of  Can- 
field,  "  in  the  discharge  of  his  religious  duties,  Mr.  Young  was 
as  earnest  and  devoted  as  when  engaged  in  his  own  private  busi- 
ness, or  that  of  a  public  character." 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  being  in  somewhat 
feeble  health,  instead  of  going  to  help  to  fight  the  battles  of  his 
country  upon  the  field,  he  accepted  the  appointment  of  judge 
advocate  in  one  of  the  military  departments,  and  made  up  his 
mind  to  serve  his  country  in  that  way ;  but  before  he  had  time 
to  enter  upon  the  duties  thereof,  he  accepted  the  office  of  military 
secretary  and  aide-de-camp  to  Governor  Tod,  of  Ohio,  with  the 
rank  of  colonel,  and  served  in  that  capacity  during  the  Governor's 
administration.  Having  enjoyed  a  short  respite  after  the  close 
of  his  arduous  labors  as  secretary,  he  received  and  accepted  an 
appointment  in  the  War  Department  at  Washington,  and  was 
placed  upon  duty  by  Secretary  Stanton.  Here,  besides  performing 
various  other  duties,  he  gave  decisions  in  cases  of  claims  against 
the  Government,  in  cases  of  rebel  prisoners  seeking  to  renew  their 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  in  cases  where  charges  were 
preferred  against  military  officers.  He  occupied  this  responsible 
and  important  position  until  the  spring  of  1868,  when,  upon  the 
urgent  request  of  his  aged  parents,  he  resigned,  and  returned  to 
his  beautiful  "  Hillside "  home  in  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  which 
overlooks  the  lonely  cemetery  in  which  now  sleeps  the  precious 
dust  of  his  mortal  remains.  Thus  rolled  on,  one  after  another, 
the  important  events  of  his  life. 

In  the  following  August  he  purchased  The  Buckeye  State, 
one  of  the  old  county  papers  of  his  native  county ;  and,  going 
at  once  into  the  editorial  chair,  he  earnestly  applied  the  genius, 
ability,  and  tact  of  his  well-disciplined  mind  to  make  it  a  paper 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  407 

worthy  of  its  new  editor.  And  with  his  good  sense,  extensive 
knowledge  of  human  nature,  and  general  information,  together 
with  his  easy,  fluent,  graphic,  and  forcible  style  of  writing,  he 
succeeded  admirably.  In  a  few  months  the  reputation  of  the 
paper  had  improved  so  much,  and  the  popularity  of  the  new 
editor  increased  so  rapidly  that,  in  the  foil  of  1869,  the  people 
of  his  native  county  did  him  the  honor  of  electing  him  a  member 
of  the  State  Legislature.  This  was  a  new  era  in  Colonel  Young's 
life.  Though  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  a  judge  by  practice,  he 
had  never  acted  in  the  capacity  of  a  legislator;  yet,  buoyant 
with  hope,  and  eager  to  discharge  every  duty,  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Legislature  he  answered  to  his  name  at  the  first  calling  of  the 
roll ;  and  although,  with  few  exceptions,  he  entered  the  walls  of 
the  Capitol  at  Columbus  an  entire  stranger,  yet  with  his  genial, 
winning  ways  he  soon  formed  many  agreeable  acquaintances, 
and  made  many  warm  friends.  True,  sincere,  and  honest,  with 
engaging  manners  and  fine  colloquial  powers,  he  was  one  who 
knew  well  how  to  make  friends,  and  how  to  keep  them  ;  in  fact, 
warm  friendship,  stern  integrity,  pure  morality,  ardent  patriotism, 
and  a  peculiar  nobility  of  soul,  were  some  of  the  leading  traits  of 
his  noble  character.  Colonel  Young,  being  of  feeble  health,  labored 
under  great  disadvantages  ;  and  yet  true  greatness  does  not  con- 
sist in  high  intellectual  attainments:  it  lies  more  in  the  heart,  in 
self-denial,  and  moral  heroism.  And  if  you  analyze  closely  the 
character  of  Colonel  Young,  you  will  find  that  his  great  power 
and  influence  laid  more  in  the  goodness  of  his  heart  than  in  the 
brilliancy  of  his  mind.  In  speaking  upon  this  point,  says  his 
special  friend,  Hon.  Mr.  Williams,  member  of  the  Legislature 
from  Fayette  County,  "Admirable  as  were  his#qualities  of  mind, 
it  was,  after  all,  more  his  qualities  of  heart  that  attracted  and 
attached  his  fellow-men  to  him.  No  man  had  a  higher  sense  of 
honor,  or  finer  sensibilities,  or  exhibited  more  uniformly  in  daily 
life  those  accomplishments  which  mark  the  perfect  gentleman. 
He  seemed  to  have  been  gifted  by  nature,  rather,  than  to  have 
acquired  by  culture,  in  a  prominent  degree,  .those  noble  traits  of 
heart  that  win  and  charm;  and  inspired  with  confidence  and 
respect  all  who  came  in  contact  with  him.  He  made  friends  fast, 
and  held  them  long" 


408  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

HIS   DEATH. 

Sudden  and  unexpected — it  came  "as  a  thief  in  the  night." 
Like  a  faithful  soldier,  he  died  at  his  post ;  that  is  a  great  honor. 
Having  dined  with  Mr.  Adair,  at  the  American  Hotel,  they 
walked  in  company  to  the  Capitol.  Upon  ascending  the  steps, 
Colonel  Young  threw  up  blood,  and  complained  of  pain  and 
oppression  at  the  lungs.  Growing  worse,  he  intimated  that  he 
ought  to  return  to  the  hotel,  and  suddenly  beginning  to  feel  very 
weak,  he  desired  to  lie  down;  whereupon  he  was  assisted  into  the 
Comptroller's  office,  and  was  at  once  waited  upon  by  his  intimate 
friends,  who  spared  no  pains  for  his  comfort,  and  immediately 
sent  for  his  old  family  physician,  Dr.  George  W.  Brooke,  member 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  from  Mahoning  County.  Other 
physicians  were  brought  at  once,  and  everything  possible  was 
done,  but  all  to  no  avail.  Almost  as  soon  as  he  was  seated,  "  over 
a  gallon  of  blood  gushed  from  his  mouth."  This  gave  him  a 
little  relief,  but  he  never  spoke  after  entering  the  room.  When 
Dr.  Brooke,  his  old  friend,  approached  him,  he  opened  his  eyes, 
but  gave  no  other  signs  of  recognition.  His  work  was  done  — 
his  time  was  out;  and,  with  a  few  more  throbbings  of  his  kind, 
generous  heart,  "the  wheel  at  the  cistern  stood  still,"  and  his 
noble  soul,  washed  in  a  Saviour's  blood,  went  from  the  exciting 
scenes  of  legislation  to  the  peaceful  abodes  of  the  redeemed  in 
heaven.  The  scene  in  the  Capitol  was  deeply  impressive.  At  first 
it  partook  of  great  excitement ;  officials  ran  from  their  offices, 
members  from  the  House  and  Senate  Chamber,  and,  filled  with 
consternation,  large  crowds  rushed  from  the  streets  deeply  anxious 
to  know  what  ha^  happened.  The  first  response  was,  "Colonel 
Young  is  dying."  And  no  sooner  had  this  spread  through  the 
vast  crowd,  than  came  the  more  startling  announcement,  "Colonel 
Young  is  dead  !  "  Deeply  impressed  with  reverence  and  awe,  the 
people  gathered  round,  and  gazed  upon  the  pale  face  of  the  de- 
parted patriot  —  the  excitement  dies  away,  and  a  deep  feeling  of 
sorrow  and  sadness  settled  down  upon  the  Capitol,  and  all  about  it. 

But  still  more  sorrowful  and  impressive  was  the  reception 
of  the  sad  news  of  his  death  at  his  late  home  in  New  Lisboa. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  409 

Word  had  been  received  a  day  or  two  previous  of  Mr.  Young's 
intention  to  spend  the  following  Sabbath  at  home  with  his  family: 
he  was  therefore  anxiously  looked  for  when  the  news  of  his 
dying  reached  New  Lisbon.  Almost  immediately  following  the 
last  flash,  the  next  despatch  announced  that  "  Colonel  Young  is 
dead."  How  deep  the  impression,  and  sad  the  disappointment! 
sorrow  and  sadness  filled  every  heart !  How  great  the  loss  and 
severe  the  trial  to  the  bereaved  wife,  the  aged  parents,  and  the  dear 
little  daughter !  And  although  the  transition  from  sweet  expec- 
tation to  the  keenest  grief  and  deepest  mourning  was  very  sudden 
and  unexpected  —  yet  to  the  bereaved,  in  all  such  cases,  Jesus 
says,  "  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled ; "  "  Weep  not ; "  "  Be  of 
good  cheer,"  because,  for  such  "  to  die  is  gain"  and  "  to  depart  is 
far  better."  The  departed,  instead  of  spending  the  anticipated 
Sabbath  with  his  beloved  family  on  earth,  went,  no  doubt,  to 
spend  it  with  the  blessed  "  family  in  heaven."  Here,  his  friends 
weep  and  mourn  his  loss ;  there,  realizing  his  gain,  he  joins  the 
ranks  and  sings  the  songs  of  the  redeemed  in  glory.  Here  he 
sat  in  a  legislator's  chair,  there  he  sits  upon  the  throne  of  God. 

The  remains  of  Colonel  Young  laid  in  state  in  the  Governor's 
office,  on  Friday,  from  8  to  10  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  arrived  on  the 
train,  in  charge  of  the  escort,  at  New  Lisbon,  Saturday  evening 
about  9  o'clock,  and  were  immediately  conveyed  to  his  late  resi- 
dence. There,  on  the  following  Sabbath,  they  were  visited  by 
hundreds  of  friends  and  a  large  concourse  of  people  ;  and  at  2 
o'clock,  p.  M.,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Vallandigham  read  in  a  very  im- 
pressive manner  the  solemn  funeral  services  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church.  The  remains  were  then  escorted  to  the  ceme- 
tery by  a  large  delegation  of  Free  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows, 
to  both  of  which  societies  the  deceased  belonged.  The  funeral 
procession  was  unusually  large  and  imposing.  At  the  close  of 
the  burial  services,  the  body  was  given  in  charge  of  the  Masons, 
and  buried  with  their  usual  forms  and  ceremonies. 

The  House  of  Representatives  unanimously  passed  resolutions 
expressing,  in  the  strongest  terms,  their  high  appreciation  of  Mr. 
Young's  "  varied  talents,  his  public  and  private  worth,  and  of  his 
exalted  character  as  a  Christian  gentleman."  We  here  insert  a 


410  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

few  extracts  from  the  speeches  of  the  members  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  upon  the  solemn  occasion  of  Mr. 
Young's  death. 

Hon.  JOSIAH  THOMPSON",  of  East  Liverpool,  his  successor, 
said,  in  speaking  of  the  responsible  positions  he  had  occupied: 
"He  leaves  a  record  of  which  his  friends  may  well  be  proud  ! 
But  our  friend  has  gone!  Cut  down  in  the  meridian  of  the  years 
ordinarily  allotted  to  man  —  upon  the  threshold  of  usefulness, 
with  a  brilliant  future  before  him.  His  kindly  greeting  will 
meet  us  not  again;  and  that  place  where  he  was  more  highly 
prized  and  will  be  more  sadly  missed  —  the  domestic  circle  — 
will  see  him  and  hear  his  voice  no  more  forever.  And,  while  we 
mourn  for  the  dead,  and  sympathize  with  the  surviving  widow 
and  relations,  let  us  not  forget  our  duty  to  mankind  and  to  the 
State :  let  us  so  conduct  ourselves,  not  only  through  the  remain- 
ing time  of  the  present  session  of  this  General  Assembly,  but 
through  life,  that,  when  the  Governor  of  the  Universe  shall  sound 
the  gavel  which  shall  be  the  token  for  our  departure,  we  shall 
leave  behind  us  characters  beautified  with  all  the  Christian  vir- 
tues of  our  departed  friend." 

Mr.  CURTISS,  of  Cuyahoga  County,  said  :  "  Mr.  Young's  gentle 
spirit  cast  a  halo  of  warmth  and  brightness  around  him  continually. 
I  can  truthfully  attest  that  I  have  never  met  with  one  whom  I 
believed  combined  purer  and  more  excel  lent  elements  of  character 
than  he.  It  is  rare,  indeed,  sir,  we  meet  men  of  finished  culture, 
enlarged  intelligence  and  firmness,  who  add  to  these  qualities  the 
finer  and  ennobling  characteristics  of  virtue,  truthfulness,  and 
kindness  of  decided  and  marked  types.  But  this  was  true  of 
him.  It  can  truly  be  said  that  he  lived  not  within  the  sphere  of 
self,  but  in  the  great  interests  of  humanity.  His  moral  vision  was 
never  dimmed  by  sordid  or  mercenary  conceptions.  Truth  was 
ever  his  polar  star,  while  mercy  and  justice  lighted  his  pathway." 
Mr.  ENOCHS,  of  Lawrence  County,  in  speaking  of  Colonel 
Young,  said  :  "  He  was  true,  kind,  faithful,  patient,  honest,  and 
brave  .  With  a  disease  at  all  times  preying  on  the  very  vitals 
of  his  life;  standing,  as  he  knew,  on  the  verge  of  the  grave; 
yet  cheerful  and  happy.  Ordinary  men  would  have  sunk  in  its 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAB.  411 

presence ;  but  when  not  prostrate,  he  entered  upon  life  each  day 
seemingly  as  buoyant  as  though  he  had  every  prospect  of  a  long 
life  before  him ;  and  at  each  step  in  life  seemed  to  feel  — 

'  0  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ! 
0  grave,  where  is  thy  victory ! '  " 

The  Hon.  S.  W.  Gilson  says,  in  a  letter,  that  "  Judge  Young 
was  a  close  student  and  an  excellent  classical  scholar,  careful  and 
attentive  to  business  ;  and,  while  with  me  as  student  and  partner, 
he  was  an  agreeable  friend,  a  man  of  good  moral  character,  of 
excellent  habits,  and  worthy  of  the  esteem  of  his  companions  and 
friends."  He  adds  : 

"  With  these  few  words 
I  say,  friend  of  former  years,  farewell ! 
May'st  thou  rest  with  heroes  and  sages  on 
The  green  banks  of  the  river  of  Life !     FABEWKLL!  " 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FAREWELL   TO    THE    HOSPITAL. 

A  BRIEF  AND  SOLEMN  REVIEW  —  NUMBER  OF  PATIENTS  IN  HOSPITAL  — 
AVERAGE  DAILY  AND  TOTAL  MORTALITY  .OF  THE  WAR — INTER- 
VIEWS WITH  SOLDIERS  — CHAPLAINS  MUCH  EXPOSED  TO  DISEASE  — 
SOLEMN  TO  PART  —  FAREWELL  TO  THE  CHESAPEAKE;  TO  THE 
CHAPEL;  TO  THE  MATRONS;  TO  HAMPTON;  TO  THE  CHAPLAINS  — 
FAREWELL  TO  THE  CHRISTIAN  SOLDIERS  — APPEAL  AND  FAREWELL 
TO  THE  IMPENITENT  —  FAREWELL  TO  THE  DEAD  —  THE  GREAT 
CHRISTIAN  VICTORY  —  THE  REBELLION  DISSECTED  —  SOURCE  OF  THE 
VICTORY— MUNIFICENT  GIFTS  —  AMERICANS  AND  EUROPEANS  WHET- 
TING ONE  ANOTHER  —  Go  FORWARD. 

OFFICERS  AND  FELLOW -SOLDIERS:  — The  war  is  over! 
the  effusion  of  blood  is  stayed  !  "  the  battle  's  fought;  the  vic- 
tory won ! "  and  the  country  is  saved  !  The  two  mighty  armies,  so 
long  engaged  in  fierce  conflict,  have  disbanded,  and  gone  home! 
AIK!  the  nation,  ju<^  drenched  in  fraternal  blood,  again  enjoys 
peace ;  and  the  hospitals,  for  the  last  four  years  thronged  with 
the  sick,  wounded,  dying,  and  dead,  are  now  closing  out.  And 
although  a  few  of  us  are  still  here  lingering  around  these  old  blood- 


412  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

stained  wards,  made  sacred  by  the  long,  severe  suffering  and 
death  of  so  many  brave  patriots,  to  nurse  and  take  care  of  those 
patients  as  yet  unable  to  go  home,  we  will  all  soon  be  discharged. 
As  for  me,  being  the  last  chaplain  mustered  in,  I  am  the  first 
mustered  out.  Having  labored  some  fifteen  months  in  this  ex- 
tensive home  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  the  honorable  Secretary 
of  War  drops  me  a  little  note,  stating  that  "you  are  honorably 
mustered  out  of  the  service  of  the  United  States ;  your  services 
being  no  longer  needed."  Hence  we  come,  to-day,  to  bid  you  all 
an  affectionate  farewell.  And  now,  in  taking  my  leave,  let  us 
take  a  brief  retrospect  of  the  past.  It  makes  a  very  solemn 
review.  To  recall  the  severe  suffering  and  the  immense  mortality 
endured  in  these  hospitals  the  past  two  years  is  very  solemn  and 
impressive.  And  when  we  begin  to  count  numbers,  the  impres- 
sion is  much  deeper.  The  greatest  number  of  patients  in  the 
hospital  at  any  one  time,  was  four  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
forty-eight  on  May  26, 1865.  And  during  my  labors  here,  which 
have  been  the  hardest  of  my  life,  we  have  received  and  treated 
in  this  hospital  some  twenty-five  thousand  patients,  some  two 
thousand  of  whom  are  now  in  their  graves,  The  greatest  number 
of  deaths  on  any  one  day  was  nineteen.  Three  hundred  died 
during  the  month  of  August,  1864,  in  the  Hampton  division. 
The  greatest  number  buried  any  one  day,  was  twentj'-nine. 
Others  are  passing  away.  The  stream  of  death  is  still  flowing. 
The  king  of  terrors  still  reigns.  Half  a  million  have  died  in  the 
war,  with  an  average  mortality  of  more  than  two  hundred  a  day. 
Two  hundred  a  day  !  How  impressive  the  fact !  how  solemn 
the  warning  !  Take  the  world  over,  about  seventy  die  every 
minute,  over  four  thousand  every  hour,  and  a  generation  every 
thirty-three  years.  We  will  all  soon  be  in  our  graves.  Time  is 
short;  eternity  is  just  at  hand.  Oh,  then,  fellow-soldiers,  let  us 
now  prepare  for  it.  My  intercourse  with  you  has  been  very 
pleasant.  To  hear  the  soldier  speak  of  the  thrilling  incidents 
of  the  war,  the  weary  march,  the  heavy  charge,  the  bloody 
fight,  and  the  dreadful  carnage,  was  deeply  interesting ;  but  to 
hear  them  relate,  with  deep  emotions  and  gushing  tears,  their 
religious  experience,  was  far  more  interesting  and  refreshing. 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  413 

The  simplicity,  freeness,  and  frankness  with  which  soldiers  and 
officers  have  talked  to  us  about  these  things,  their  wants,  trials, 
temptations,  etc.,  have  always  added  much  to  the  interest  and 
profit  of  our  interviews.  They  often  became  eloquent  and  pow- 
erful, because  they  spoke  right  out  from  the  heart,  telling  us  all 
about  their  sins,  difficulties,  sufferings,  feelings,  wants,  and  cares. 
Many  a  time  have  I  gone  away  from  the  patient's  bedside  in- 
structed, encouraged,  and  refreshed.  Although  this  work  was 
very  laborious,  yet  we  deemed  it  a  privilege.  Constrained  by  a 
sense  of  duty  to  the  soldier,  to  our  country,  and  to  God,  we 
enjoyed  it,  notwithstanding  our  great  exposure  to  contract  dis- 
ease. Though  it  is  very  pleasant  to  go  and  see  "  the  loved  ones 
at  home,"  yet  we  leave  the  suffering  soldier,  and  these  old  halls, 
where  we  have  so  often  knelt  and  prayed  together  and  enjoyed 
such  precious  times  of  refreshing,  with  much  sorrow  and  deep 
regret.  %  It  is  very  hard  to  get  away.  To  pack  up,  and  say  fare- 
well, seems  very  difficult.  To  leave  kind  friends  with  whom  we 
have  been  so  long  associated  in  our  dreadful  work,  is  peculiarly 
trying.  Yet  it  is  a  pleasing  reflection  to  go  home  crowned  with 
victory  and  a  redeemed  country,  although  it  has  cost  the  Union 
army  the  loss  of  over  three  hundred  thousand  lives,  of  whom 
over  ninety  thousand  were  killed  in  action  or  died  of  wounds. 
"  Peace  be  to  their  ashes."  May  God  abundantly  bless  and  com- 
fort their  bereaved,  mourning  friends !  Farewell,  "  Old  Chesa- 
peake ! "  thou  whose  ocean  breeze  has  so  often  gladdened  the 
heart  and  cheered  the  soul  of  many  a  suffering  hero !  Farewell 
to  thy  historic  walls,  which,  if  they  could  but  speak  and  record 
the  agonies  and  sufferings,  the  patience,  the  dying  groans,  the 
fervent  prayers,  the  bright  conversions,  and  triumphant  deaths 
of  our  departed  heroes,  't  would  fill  many  volumes  with  most 
interesting  matter.  Farewell,  ye  widowed  weeping  wives  and 
bereaved  mothers,  whose  dear  husbands  and  beloved  sons  have 
laid  down  their  lives  within  these  blood-stained  walls  in  honor 
of  the  dear  old  flag  and  for  the  salvation  of  the  country.  You 
have  done  your  country  a  good  service.  May  God  richly  reward 
you  for  your  great  sacrifices,  and  abundantly  bless  and  comfort 
you  in  your  sad  bereavements.  Farewell,  ye  self-denying  matrons, 


414  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

who  have  so  long  stood  pensive  and  watehful  around  the  narrow 
couch  of  the  sick,  wounded,  arid  dying  soldier,  who,  by  your  tender, 
affectionate,  painstaking  nursing,  fervent  prayers,  and  soothing 
sympathies,  have  ministered  so  much  to  the  comfort  of  the  dying, 
and  have  saved  the  lives  of  so  many  of  our  surviving  soldiers 
and  officers.  You  have  done  a  noble  work  in  the  great  strug- 
gle for  national  existence.  Although  you  have  not  wielded  the 
sword,  fired  the  cannon,  besieged  cities,  nor  commanded  armies; 
yet,  doubtless,  you  have  done  more,  perhaps,  than  some  who  did 
all  these  things,  in  quelling  the  rebellion  and  saving  the  country. 
Fare  ye  well !  The  Lord  reward  you  abundantly  for  your  work 
and  labor  of  love.  Peace  be  with  you ! 

Farewell,  "  Bethesdian  Chapel,"  within  whose  walls  we  have 
enjoyed  many  a  precious  hour ;  farewell,  thou  sacred  place 
endeared  to  thousands  of  soldiers  and  officers  by  the  sweet  songs 
of  praise,  the  impressive  sermon,  the  refreshing  prayer  and  con- 
ference meeting,  the  soldiers'  religious  talk,  earnest  exhortation, 
and  fervent  prayers  !  Long  wilt  thou  be  remembered  with 
pleasing  recollections,  as  the  sacred  spot  where  many  a  con- 
valescent soldier,  officer,  and  chaplain  enjoyed  precious  seasons 
of  refreshing,  and,  doubtless,  by  many  as  the  place  where  they 
first  drew  the  breath  of  spiritual  life. 

Farewell,  "  Old  Hampton,"  with  all  thy  thrilling  scenes  of 
suffering,  blood,  and  death ;  farewell,  ye  blood-stained  wards, 
into  whose  oblong  barracks  and  snow-white  tents  the  sick  and 
wounded  have  come  and  gone  like  the  ocean's  tide :  though  ye 
have  been  the  scene  of  so  much  suffering,  sorrow,  and  death,  yet 
being  the  place  where  we  have  so  often  mingled  our  prayers, 
sympathies,  and  tears,  with  so  many  brave  patriots,  and  being 
the  battle-field  where  so  many  have,  through  grace,  won  the 
victory  over  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  those  old  walks 
and  wards,  headquarters,  and  halls  will  ever  be  held  in  sor- 
rowful, yet  affectionate  remembrance  !  Farewell,  ye  dingy 
dining  -  halls ;  whose  rough  tables  and  sombre  walls,  if  they 
could  but  speak  and  record  the  solemn,  impressive  sermons,  the 
interesting  and  refreshing  prayer  and  conference  meeting,  the 
soldier's  stirring,  heart-gushing  exhortation  and  importunate 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  415 

prayer,  the  happy  religious  experience,  the  sweet  communions, 
and  solemn  vows,  and  frequent  conversions,  it  too  would  form 
many  volumes  of  most  interesting  and  useful  matter. 

Farewell,  ye  chaplains  !  Though  we  have  been  long  associated 
in  our  arduous  work,  to-day  we  separate ;  and  although  the  four 
divisions  of  the  hospital  are  now  merged  into  one ;  and  although 
the  patients  are  now  rapidly  hurrying  away  by  transfer,  by  dis- 
charge, and  by  death,  yet  your  work  is  still  great.  The  field  is 
still  great,  white,,  ready  to  harvest !  God  is  still  saying,  "  Thrust 
in  the  sickle,  and  reap."  There  are  here  yet  many  soldiers  of 
the  army,  who  are  not  soldiers  of  the  cross.  Some  are  nigh  unto 
death,  yet  without  hope ;  others,  almost  Christians,  like  the 
trembling  jailer,  are  anxiously  inquiring  what  to  do  to  be  saved. 
They  will  require  special  attention,  tender  sympathy,  faithful 
instruction,  and  earnest  prayers.  Many  others,  still  careless  and 
impenitent,  should  be  faithfully  instructed,  tenderly  warned,  and 
earnestly  besought  to  repent  and  come  to  Jesus.  I^et  us  en- 
deavor to  remember  that,  although  the  war  is  over,  and  the 
rebellion  quelled,  it  is  still  our  duty  to  fight  on  even  until  death. 
Then  suffer  me,  in  bidding  you  an  affectionate  farewell,  to  say  to 
you,  in  the  language  of  Jesus,  "Be  thou  faithful"  ,  Let  us  strive 
to  meet  around  God's  throne,  where  there  will  be  no  more  war. 

We  come  now,  fellow-soldiers,  to  bid  you  a  long,  affectionate 
farewell !  Our  associations  have  been  pleasant  and  agreeable, 
and,  having  so  long  endured  the  trials,  hardships,  and  depriva- 
tions of  hospital  life,  to  separate  seems  very  hard ;  and  although 
I  leave  you  to-day,  yet  my  prayers,  my  sympathies,  and  my 
heart  will  still  be  with  you.  Farewell,  ye  soldiers  of  the  cross ! 
We  have  enjoyed  many  precious  times  of  refreshing  around  the 
throne  of  grace  in  these  old  wards  and  halls ;  but  we  will  enjoy 
them  here  no  longer :  to-day  we  part,  to  meet  no  more  in  this 
world  ;  and,  as  we  will  no  more  mingle  our  prayers  and  praises  on 
earth,  oh,  let  us  strive  "  to  strike  hands  in  heaven  !  "  Remember, 
brethren,  that,  although  the  war  is  over,  and  the  country  saved, 
and  you  will  soon  be  discharged  from  the  service,  yet  you  still 
have  rebellions  to  quell,  battles  to  fight,  and  victories  to  win. 
Your  great  Captain's  command  is,  still  to  fight,  fight  on,  fight 


416  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

on  till  death,  and  you  '11  receive  the  crown !  Doubtless,  many 
of  you  have  been  converted  in  the  army  or  in  the  hospital ;  the 
thrilling  incidents  of  battle,  and  the  melting  scenes  of  hospital 
life,  through  grace,  have  led  you  to  the  cross.  God  has  done 
great  things  for  you.  You  owe  him  a  debt  of  gratitude  you  can 
never  pay.  You  have  done  much  for  the  deliverance  of  your 
country,  and  for  the  salvation  of  souls ;  but  your  work  is  not 
complete ;  there  is  yet  much  work  to  be  done,  and,  as  you  have 
enlisted  in  this  service  for  life,  let  me  entreat  you,  brethren, 
toil  on,  children  of  the  living  God,  toil  on  !  As  you  go  home, 
carry  your  religion  with  you  j  keep  the  doctrines  of  the  cross 
uppermost  in  your  hearts,  and  let  them  shine  bright  in  your 
lives.  As  you  lay  off  the  armor  of  your  country,  gird  on  afresh 
"  the  whole  armor  of  God,"  and  let  the  Church  at  home  see  and 
feel  the  power  of  the  religion  of  the  army.  May  God  abund- 
antly bless,  comfort,  and  save  you.  And  now  we  come  to  bid 
farewell  to  you,  my  impenitent  friends !  And  what  shall  I  sav 
to  you ?  what  more  can  we  say?  what  more  can  we  do,  than  we 
have  done  ?  My  very  heart  bleeds  for  you  ;  my  very  soul  longs 
for  your  salvation !  And,  oh,  my  dear  soldiers,  what  shall  we 
say  more?  We  have  given  you  many  warnings;  we  have 
sounded  in  your  ears  the  terrors  of  God's  law ;  in  our  exhorta- 
tions we  have  led  you  down  to  the  depths  of  hell,  and  then  led 
you  up  to  the  seraphic  joys  of  heaven,  and  besought  you  by  the 
thrilling  scenes  of  Gethsemane  and  Calvary,  and  by  the  mercies 
of  God,  and  by  the  love  of  Christ,  to  believe  and  be  saved  —  and 
you  still  remain  impenitent.  Though  you  have  proved  your- 
selves loyal  to  your  country,  yet,  with  sorrow  be  it  said,  you  are 
still  disloyal  to  God  !  You  have  fought  well  to  put  down  rebel- 
lion against  the  Government,  yet  you  still  keep  up  rebellion 
against  God  in  your  hearts.  And  now,  before  I  bid  you  a  final 
farewell,  allow  me  to  warn  and  entreat  you  once  more.  It  is  the 
last  time.  It  is  hard  to  give  you  up.  How  solemn  and  im- 
pressive the  scene  !  To  see  men,  who  have  done  so  much  to  save 
their  country,  go  home,  and  doing  nothing  to  save  their  souls, 
seems  hard.  Here  we  have  often  met  beneath  the  beautiful 
folds  of  that  dear  old  flag,  and  heard  many  earnest  prayers  and 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  417 

impressive  sermons  ;  but  here  we  all  will  meet  no  more  forever. 
AVe  will  all  soon  go  home;  the  hospital  will  soon  disband;  the 
last  bugle  will  soon  sound  ;  the  last  roll  will  soon  be  called,  and 
these  old  wards,  made  sacred  by  the  death  of  so  many  heroes, 
will  soon  be  torn  away ;  and  though  we  meet  no  more  on  earth, 
we  will  all  meet  at  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ,  when  the  trump 
of  God  shall  sound,  when  a  final  separation  will  take  place 
between  the  loyal  and  disloyal  to  God.  Then,  once  more  we 
beseech  you,  repent,  and  look  to  Jesus ;  let  the  thrilling  scenes 
of  Bethlehem,  Gethsemane,  and  Calvary  stir  your  souls  and  win 
your  hearts ;  yes,  go  to  Calvary,  and  see  the  Lord  of  glory 
expiring  upon  the  cross — Jesus  dying  that  you  might  have 
eternal  life.  Follow  him  from  the  cross  to  the  tomb,  and  from 
the  tomb  to  the  throne,  and  all  to  bring  us  to  God.  Oh,  then, 
while  standing  by  the  graves  of  three  thousand  brave  comrades 
who  have  sacrificed  their  lives  for  their  country,  we  beseech  you, 
give  your  hearts  to  God.  Dear  soldiers,  farewell,  farewell !  It 
is  hard  to  leave  you ;  it  is  harder  to  leave  you  out  of  Christ. 
May  the  God  of  all  grace  have  mercy  upon  and  abundantly 
bless  you  all !  And  now,  in  taking  leave  of  the  living,  my 
thoughts  go  and  linger  with  the  dead;  and  while  walking  amidst 
the  soldiers'  graves,  we  almost  feel  like  saying  farewell  to  their 
precious  dust.  Farewell,  thou  sacred  spot,  within  whose  slen- 
der walls  sleep  the  mortal  remains  of  thousands  around  whose 
lonely  graves  many  a  tear  has  been  shed,  many  a  prayer  offered, 
and  many  a  smitten  heart  has  deeply  throbbed  with  crushing 
grief.  Farewell,  ye  patriotic  dead,  whose  blood  has  stained  many 
a  battle-field,  whose  valor  and  courage  have  won  many  a  victory, 
and  whose  daring  deeds  deserve  to  be  written  on  leaves  more 
durable  than  leaves  of  brass :  let  their  names  be  enshrined  in 
the  memory  and  deeply  engraved  upon  the  heart  of  every  Amer- 
ican patriot;  let  monuments  of  marble  rise  to  their  honor,  so 
that  their  heroic  deeds  may  be  handed  down  to  the  latest  poster- 
ity. Farewell  to  their  precious  dust !  May  God  keep,  guard, 
and  protect  it  until  the  morning  of  the  resurrection,  when  the 
voice  of  the  archangel  and  the  trump  of  God  shall  sound,  and 
bid  the  scattered  fragments  of  broken  bones  and  amputated  liralw 
27 


418  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

come  together;  when  those  mortal  bodies,  sown  in  corruption, 
weakness,  and  dishonor,  shall  be  raised  in  power,  honor,  and 
glory ;  when  the  redeemed  shall  be  caught  up  to  meet  the  Lord 
in  the  air,  and  dwell  forever  with  him  in  glory* 

THE  GREAT  CHRISTIAN  VICTORY. 

With  all  the  Christian  efforts,  preaching,  praying,  and  pains- 
taking labor  performed  by  the  chaplain  and  the  Christian  and  Sani- 
tary Commissions,  to  supply  the  wants  and  to  save  the  soldier's 
soul,  the  grandest  exhibition  of  Christianity  in  the  war  is  the 
victory  achieved  in  quelling  the  rebellion.  Conceived  in  sin, 
and  brought  forth  in  iniquity,  the  rebellion  was  all  wrong  from 
beginning  to  end.  If  you  dissect  it,  you  will  find  it  made  up 
of  sin,  pride,  selfishness,  treachery,  and  treason.  And  the  victory 
achieved  in  quelling  it,  is  a  victory  of  right  over  wrong,  of  truth 
over  error,  of  liberty  over  slavery,  and  of  loyalty  over  treason. 
The  history  of  the  world  affords  many  great  and  glorious  victo- 
ries; but,  for  important  results,  few  equal  this.  And  although 
the  earth  did  not  quake,  nor  the  rocks  rend,  nor  the  sun  refuse  to 
shine  at  its  achievement ;  yet,  when  viewed  in  all  its  great,  far- 
reaching,  and  powerful  effects  upon  the  church,  self-government, 
human  progress,  and  Christian  civilization  throughout  the  world, 
it  is  for  grandeur  and  glory  the  greatest  victory  since  that  achieved 
'by  the  Son  of  God  upon  Mount  Calvary  or  at  the  tomb  of  Joseph. 
And  when  we  consider  the  length  and  severity  of  the  conflict,  the 
great  sacrifice  made  in  life,  blood,  and  treasure  in  achieving  it, 
carrying  away  over  half  a  million  of  brave  men,  and  filling  the 
land  with  widows  and  orphans,  and  ridging  it  with  soldiers' 
graves,  the  victory  appears  much  greater.  The  restoration  of 
peace  after  a  four  years'  civil  war  that  caused  an  average  daily 
mortality  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  brave  men,  is  no  small 
blessing.  How  much  soever  is  due  to  the  bravery,  military  genius, 
and  hard  fighting  of  the  army  and  navy,  yet  the  great  moral 
energy,  strength,  and  power  by  which  the  rebellion  was  put  down, 
is,  doubtless,  mainly  due  to  the  Christian  principles  of  the  loyal 
part  of  the  nation.  It  was  moral  strength  that  saved  the  nation 
and  freed  the  slave.  And  had  we  had  less  of  it,  the  rebellion 


a 


CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR.  419 

might  have  destroyed  the  nation,  and  thus  thwarted  this  great 
effort  to  maintain  self-government  in  the  world.  Even  while  the 
fierce  conflict  was  raging,  when  victory  perched  upon  the  rebel 
standard,  monarchical  Europe  rejoiced,  and  European  aristocracy 
were  heard  to  say  in  derision,  "  There  goes  your  model  republic, 
knocked  into  splinters  in  the  course  of  one  man's  life !  "  And 
then,  with  our  country  struggling  for  life,  and  just  ready  to  be 
wrapped  in  her  winding-sheet,  as  those  European  aristocrats  sup- 
posed, they  stood  ready  to  help  our  American  traitors  lay  her  in 
the  grave.  But  thanks  be  to  a  kind  Providence,  our  God-pro- 
tected republic,  then  unconscious  of  her  strength,  withstood  the 
severe  storm,  and  came  out  of  the  awful  conflict  with  her  columns 
of  constitutional  liberty  stronger  than  ever.  And  so  great  has 
been  our  progress  since,  that,  were  it  not  for  the  old  battle-fields, 
the  maimed  soldiers,  their  graves,  and  the  mourning  widows  and 
orphans,  you  would  scarcely  know  that  there  had  been  any  war. 
The  power  and  influence  of  Christianity  in  the  war  is  seen 
not  only  in  the  great  efforts  made  for  the  soldiers'  salvation  and 
spiritual  instruction,  but  also  in  the  munificent  contributions 
made  for  their  general  relief  and  comfort.  The  Missionary 
Herald,  quoting  from  Hartley's  Philanthropic  Results  of  the  War 
in  America,  says  that  the  total  amount  contributed  for  the  aid 
and  relief  of  the  soldiers  and  their  families  during  the  war  by  the 
States,  associations,  and  individuals,  is  $211,245,474  58,  exclu- 
sive of  the  Government  expenditures,  and  what  was  given  for  the 
freedmen  and  white  refugees. 

It  has  been  estimated  that  one-third  of  this  large  amount  has 
been  given  by  professing  Christians,  which,  says  the  same  author, 
is  a  great  deal  more  than  has  been  given  by  the  entire  church  for 
the  conversion  of  the  world  since  the  organization  of  the  Govern- 
ment. These  vast  contributions  show  that  how  much  soever  the 
American  people  may  be  absorbed  in  bank-bills,  that,  in  times  of 
great  emergencies,  such  as  the  salvation  of  the  country,  they  are 
capable  of  great  acts  of  sympathy,  and  of  a  noble  generosity. 

Hitherto  our  republic  has  been  on  probation,  and  the  great 
question  of  man's  self-government  was  still  undecided ;  but  now, 
having  survived  the  tremendous  shock  of  the  rebellion,  it  may 


420  CHRISTIANITY    IN    THE    WAR. 

be  regarded  as  being  forever  settled.  And  now,  with  railroads  and 
telegraphs  spanning  our  continent,  bringing  the  life  and  energy  of 
the  Far  West  in  contact  with  the  commerce,  wealth,  and  talent 
of  the  Great  East;  and  linked  to  the  Old  World  with  the  ties  of 
commerce,  religion,  literature,  and  telegraphic  communications, 
making  Americans  whet  Europeans,  and  Europeans  whet  Ame- 
ricans — the  United  States  is  to-day  a  terror  to  kings  ancl  queens, 
an  example  and  a  light  to  the  world,  and  the  emulation  of  the 
whole  earth. 

Although  sin  abounds  in  our  land ;  yet,  with  slavery  abol- 
ished, reconstruction  completed,  and  with  a  railroad,  commercial, 
educational,  Sabbath-school,  and  Missionary  enterprise  unsur- 
passed in  the  history  of  the  world,  our  future  prospects  are  very 
bright  and  encouraging.  How  all-important,  then,  to  wisely  im- 
prove this  victory  !  Achieved  at  a  cost  so  great,  and  involving 
interests  so  vast  both  to  Church  and  State,  the  trust  reposed  in  us 
as  a  nation  is  exceedingly  great,  and  fraught  with  a  responsibility 
literally  immense. 

Having  thus  renewed  our  strength,  and  been  made  more  perfect 
through  suffering,  and  having  passed  the  Red  Sea  of  our  pro- 
gress and  trials,  in  view  of  the  great  responsibility  resting  upon 
us,  God,  our  past  success,  and  the  great  work  before  us,  bid  us 
"  Go  forward  !  "  "  FOLLOW  UP  THE  VICTORY  ! " 


INDEX. 


A  UCTIOXEERIXG,  Sabbath,  broken  up, 
A     16. 

A  dying  thiers  prayer  powerful,  34. 
Assurance,  secret  of,  48. 
"A  glorious  attainment,"  47. 
Arrival  of  patients,  89. 
An  affectionate  kiss,  soldier's,  91. 
Army  and  Navy  Hymn -book  used,  96, 102. 
"  Always  refreshing,"  103. 
An  Indian's  reproof,  239. 
Appeal  to  the  wounded  in  hospital,  105-7. 
Asking  a  mother's  prayers,  108. 
Amos,  Miss,  matron,  119,  120. 
Americans  and  Europeans  whetting    one 

other,  420. 
Alexander,  Mrs.  Marv,  the  soldiers'  friend, 

122  ;  her  death,  123. 

Armstrong,  Robert,  109th  TJ.  S.,  prayer- 
ful ;  "  all  is  well ; "  happy  death,  146-7. 
Andersonville  Prison,  cruelties,  151;  trials 

in,  152  ;  awful  suffering,  153, 165  ;  many 

died  of  grief,  some  went  deranged,  153, 

270  ;  church  and  school  there  now,  154. 
American  Missionary  Association,  154. 
Almost  Christian,  the,  155. 
Andersonville  Hospital,  160;  diet  of,  160; 

"sick  call,"  161 ;  sufferings  in,  161, 162. 
Andersonville  prayer-meeting,  163. 
Andersonville   Cemetery,  169;  the  dead, 

169;  their  sufferings,  170;  number,  171; 

inscription  on  gate,  172. 
Alexander,  Reuben,  29th   U.  S.,  craving 

prayers,  207. 

A  swearer  brought  to  tears,  209. 
Aikin,  Charles  A.,  4th  Mass.  Car.,  anxious, 

happy,  254,  255. 
Author's  praying  with  a  dying  rebel,  70. 

capture,  20,  69 ;  loss  by,  69. 

preaching  daily   to  men   on  their 

death-beds,  98,  104,  105,  128,  132,  185, 

186,  188,  246. 

canvassing  through  the  rain,  275. 

speech  at  the  fall  of    Richmond, 

285. 
address  at  Lincoln's  funeral,  295- 

298. 
Rocky  Mountain  letter;   value  of 

the  Union,  62. 


Author's  saving  a  lieutenant's  life,  36. 

receiving  letters  of   thanks,  114, 

115,  246,  247. 

BAPTISM  of  blood,  country's,  15. 
Babcock,  Elias,  10th  N.  Y.,  co.  "B," 
wounded ;  his  heroic  faith,  ecstatic  joy, 
dying  words,  22,  23. 

Basil's  prayer:  "Give  me  any  cross,"  Ac., 
37. 

Bowman,  Moses,  15th  W.  Va.  Vol.,  con- 
verted in  the  army ;  began  to  pray  on  the 
field  of  battle ;  "  all  is  bright,"  51,  56. 

Barnett,  John  II.,  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  converted 
in  the  army;  his  zeal,  will,  assurance, 
weeping  farewell,  48,  49. 

"Biggest  gun  ever  fired  in  America,"  16. 

Brown's,  Captain  J.  B.,  bravery  at  Fort 
Gray,  63. 

Beech,  Colonel,  requests  preaching  on  the 
boat,  76. 

Bible-class,  large,  interesting,  19,  43,  81. 

Brown,  Chaplain  W.  Y.,  U.  S.  A.,  17. 

Baptized  an  officer  at  midnight,  41. 

"  Brought  to  the  point  by  wounds,"  41. 

Battle  of  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  63-68 ;  casual- 
ties of,  68.  . 

Bible  picked  up  and  carried  through  the 
war,  70. 

Bread  begged  for  prisoners,  76. 

Belle  Isle  Prison,  cruelties  of;  fare,  78, 151, 
152. 

Butler,  Major-General,  80,  307,  308. 

Barnes,  General,  Surgeon-General,  U.S.A., 
84. 

Blake,  Captain,  3d  Pa.  Heavy  Art.,  85. 

Brands  plucked  out  of  the  fire,  89. 

Bush  prayer-meetings,  102. 

Bently,  Miss  J.  E.,  matron,  120. 

"  Bury  me  with  them,  when  dead,"  123. 

Blind  exhorter,  130. 

Backslider,  the,  136,  137,  138,  178. 

Bartsber,  Henry,  5Sth  Pa.  Vols.,  heart 
fixed;  joyful  death,  140-1. 

"Bullets  for  bread,"  173. 

Boat-load  of  Andcrsonville  prisoners,  184. 

Bradley,  Theodore,  7th  Conn.  Vol.,  con- 
verted in  army,  185. 

421 


422 


INDEX. 


Burket,  John  S.,  13th  Ind.  Cav.,  anxious, 

prayerful  death,  185-6. 
Bullock,  Wm.  S.,  89th  N.  Y.  Vol.,  anxious, 

prayerful,  doubts;  perseveres;  comfort- 
able, 188-9,  269. 
Bleeding  to  death,  yet  "  resting  on  Christ 

sure,"  194. 
"Ball  in  your  head  not  as  bad  as  sin  in 

your  heart,"  195. 
Boston,  Jacob,  188th  Pa.  Vols.,  his  creed, 

faith,  assurance;  happy;  no  fear,  199, 

200. 

Bomb-proof  prayer-meetings,  210. 
Brown,  Samuel  S.,  3d  Ohio  Cav.,  ready  to 

go;  his  death,  213. 
Brown,  R.,  7th  S.  C.,  prayerful  assurance; 

no  fear,  217. 

Burnett,  Edward,  118th  N.  Y.  Vol.,  con- 
verted in  army,  through  sin,  224. 
Brown,    Wm.,    117th   N.  Y.,    submissive, 

strong  faith,  231. 

Bingham,  Rev.  Mr.,  preached,  274. 
Bombardment  of  Fort  Fisher,  288. 
Battle  of  Big  Bethel,  killed  at,  301. 

Bull  Run,  killed  at,  301. 

Ball's  Bluff,  killed  at,  301. 

Wilson's  Creek,  killed  at,  301. 

Pittsburg  Landing,  killed  at,  302. 

South  Mountain,  killed  at,  302. 

Williamsburg,  killed  at,  302. 

Antietam,  killed  at,  302. 

Fair  Oaks,  killed  at,  302. 

Malvern  Hill,  killed  at,  303. 

Cedar  Mountain,  killed  at,  303. 

Second  Bull  Run,  killed  at,  303. 

Fredericksburg,  killed  at,  303. 

Corinth,  killed  at,  303. 

Stone  River,  killed  at,  304. 

Chancellorsville,  killed  at,  304. 

Vicksburg,  killed  at,  304. 

Gettysburg,  killed  at,  305. 

Chattanooga,  killed  at,  305. 

Missionary  Ridge,  killed  at,  305. 

Fort  Wagner,  killed  at,  306. 

and  Massacre  at  Fort  Pillow,  killed 

at,  306. 

of  the  Wilderness,  killed  at,  306. 

Spottsylvania,  killed  at,  306. 

Cold  Harbor,  killed  at,  307. 

Resaca,  Ga.,  307. 

Keneshaw  Mountain,  killed  at,  308. 

Monocacy,  killed  at,  308. 

Atlanta,  killed  at,  308. 

Opequan  and  Fisher's  Hill,  killed 

at,  309. 

of  Franklin,  Tenn.,  killed  at,  309. 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  killed  at,  309. 

Cedar  Creek,  killed  at,  309-10. 

Averysboro,  killed  at,  310. 

Bentonsville,  killed  at,  310. 

Five  Forks,  killed  at,  311. 

Hatgher's  Run,  Fort  Steadman,  311. 


Battles  of  Sherman's  march  to   the   sea, 

308-9. 
Baker,  Colonel,  killed,  301 ;  Captain  Beirel 

slew  the  perpetrator,  301. 
Burnside,   General,  succeeded  McClellan, 

303-4. 
Byers,  Emanuel,  116th  Ohio  Vol.,  anxious  ; 

prayed;    delayed;    converted;    bled   to 

death,  150,  193-4. 
Beecher,  Henry  Ward,  383,  394. 

CONNER,  Smith  A.,  62d  Ohio  Vol.,  con- 
victed ;  tries ;  dies,  197-8. 
Cleveland,  Geo.  E.,  5th  N.  Y.  Cav.,  pray- 
erful; his  death,  205-6. 
Cortege,  Phil.,  18th   U.  S.,  discouraged; 

prayerful,  208. 

Converted  in  the  army,  through  sin  and 
profanity,  224. 

by  a  worldly   man    reading    the 


Bible,  240. 
Curry,  John,  a  converted  Catholic;  good 

boy;  sufferings;  death,  243. 
Church  organized,  259. 
Church  creed,  260,  276. 
Cobley,  Bennett  J.,  58th  Pa,  Vol.,  careless  ; 

wept,  261-2. 
Converted  Catholics  join  theUnion  Church. 

261. 

Catholics  turning  Protestants,  268. 
Curtis,  General,  visit  from,  278. 
Curtis,  General  N.  M.,  142d  N.  Y.,  291. 
Craighead,  Rev.  Mr.,  Editor  N.  Y.  Evan- 
gelist, 295. 
Christmas   gift   by  General   Sherman   to 

President  Lincoln,  310. 
Christmas  dinner,  269,  270  ;  four  hundred 

turkeys ;  "  huge  feeding,"  272. 

sermons,  269,  270,  272. 

concert,  271. 

Colored  soldiers'  prayer-meetings  in  new 

camp,  280-1. 
Captain    Cameron's   warm  grasp ;   death, 

117,  127,  330-1. 
Card-playing  broken  up,  269. 
Conversions  in  the  army,  48,  49,  51,  52, 

184,  188,  241,  253,  265,  265,  276. 
Conversions  in  hospital,  41,  42,  28,  44,  45, 

187,  194,  197. 
Converted  in  hospital,  221,  223,  224,  239, 

267,  277. 

on  picket,  97. 

by  hearing  the  Bible  read  in  hos- 
pital, 97. 

in  battle,  179. 

on  picket,  by  being  talked  to,  184-5. 

Curtis,  Robert,  1st  U.  S.,  heroic  courage; 

killed  five  rebels;  bit  another's  throat; 

left  for  dead,  55,  56. 
Carlton  quoted,  27. 
Chaplain  McCabe,  55. 
Chidlaw,  Rev.  B.  W.,  61. 


INDEX. 


423 


Cunningham,  Jas.  A.,  96th  Ohio  Vol. ;  "all 
is  well :  "  his  death,  61-2. 

Chapin,  Captain,  85th  N.  Y.  Vol.,  his  he- 
roic bravery  5  fighting;  mortally  wound- 
ed, 65, 

Converted  through  a  sister's  letters,  188. 

Compher,  Captain,  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  67. 

Cuyler,  John  M.,  79,  81. 

Camp  Distribution,  preaching  in,  80,85,  86. 

Chapel,  Bethesdian,  precious  meetings  in, 
80. 

Contraband  Hospital,  preached  in,  83. 

Church,  hospital,  organized,  101,  259. 

Choice  of  hymns,  104. 

Christ's  "I  would;"  your  "Ye  would 
not,"  106. 

"  Come  just  as  you  are,"  107. 

Crane,  Rev.  Mr.,  269. 

Canvassing  the  patients'  hearts,  115. 

Campbell,  Mrs.,  matron,  120. 

Carver,  Mrs.,  121-2. 

Creed,  John,  23d  111.,  co.  "  B,"  brave,  hon- 
ored, 133. 

Castle  Thunder  Prison,  152. 

Crisis  of  the  soul,  155-8. 

of  Andersonville,  158. 

Catholic  priest  prays  with  prisoners,  157. 

Crying  peace  in  danger,  157. 

Chase,  Henry  W.,  96th  N.  Y.,  anxious; 
weeps ;  sins  great ;  his  conversion ;  went 
home,  181-2. 

Christian  Commission  supplied  reading 
matter,  20. 

delegates,  80,  96,  97,  190,  210,  279, 

282-6. 

a  grand  exhibition  of  Christianity 

in  the  war,  331. 

gave  first  cup  of  coffee  to  the  wound- 
ed at  battle  of  Wilderness,  332. 

its  efficiency  and  contributions,  333. 

delegates  highly  esteemed,  333. 

saved  lives  and  souls,  333. 

"God  bless  the  Christian  Commission,"  333. 

Christian  effort  among  patients,  96. 

Corporal  Cook,  Vet.  Reserves,  283. 

Craven,  Doctor,  medical  director,  284. 

DEVIL  outflanked,  16 ;  and  whipped,  285. 
Dixon,  Chaplain,  of  16th  Conn.  Vol., 

20,  63. 
Duncan,  John  B.,  wounded;  patient;  dying 

words ;  will ;  triumphant  death,  21,  22. 
Draper,  Edward,  45th  U.  S.,  conversion ; 

strong  faith;  no  fear;  "  It  is  glorious," 

51,52. 
Dashiel,    Chaplain,    weeps   over  n,  dying 

soldier,  26,  27. 

Doubts  and  fears  removed ;  joy  restored,  38. 
Dying  soldier's  letter  to  his  wife ;   fare- 
well, 39,  40. 
Dully,  Mrs.  Mary  B.,  principal  matron, 

41,  81,  119. 


Drummer-boy's  affection  for  his  mother, 

57,  58. 

Davis*,  Jeff.,  flees  Richmond,  78,  173,  292. 
Disappointed  friends,  wives,  89. 
Diagnosis,  spiritual,  of  the  hospital,  115. 
Doubting,  distressed  doctor  relieved,  148-9. 
Dead-line,  the,  in  Andersonville,  154. 

God's,  154. 

"  Door  was  shut,"  155. 

Departure  of  Andersonville  prisoners,  166, 

167. 

"  Died  calling  for  the  chaplain,"  185-6, 229. 
Disappointed,  bereaved  wife,  187. 
Delling,  Richard,  8th  Maine  Vol.,  brave, 

patriotic,  anxious ;  prays ;  dies,  190, 191. 
"Delay  is  the  devil's  verb  —  now  is  God's 

time,"  193. 

Deserter,  condemned,  refusing  pardon,  193. 
Danger  of  delay,  193. 
Doing  essential  to  enjoying,  253. 
Dunham,  John  H.,  117th  N.  Y.,  rather 

careless;  trying;  death,  229,  230. 
Dickson,  Hiram,  112th  N.  Y.  Vol.,  longs 

for  heaven,  248-9. 
Dinsmore,  Rev.  Mr.,  279. 
Dedication  of  new  hospital  chapel,  286. 
Dodging  bullets,  307. 
Death  mighty  ;  there  is  a  Mightier,  312. 
Deaths  in  rebel  prisons,  312. 
Deserter,  the,  his  crime  and  fate,  313-14. 
Dix,  Miss,  visits  hospitals,  erects  soldiers' 

monuments,  322,  323. 
Distinguished  Christian  men  in  the  war, 

334. 

17 MANCIPATION  Proclamation,  effects 

-^  of,  16. 

Eastman,  Chaplain,  rolled  to  the  wound- 
ed and  dying,  35,  36. 

carried  to  a  dying  officer,  36. 

Eloquence  of  the  heart  powerful,  101,  257. 

Execution  of  prisoners  in  Andersonville, 
156,  157. 

Exchange  of  Andersonville  prisoners,  164. 

Extreme  cruelty,  173. 

Eloquence  of  freedmen,  282. 

Edwards,  Jonathan,  "  lost  and  swallowed 
up  in  God,"  248. 

Eternal  progress  in  heaven,  249. 

Ellison,  Jacob,  114th  U.  S.,  converted  in 
camp,  253. 

Extracts  from  author's  diary,  256,  279. 

Ellsworth,  Colonel,  his  death,  300. 

FEE,  Captain,  co.  "  I,"  48th  N.  Y.,  his 
character;    wound;     requests    to    be 
prayed  for;  his  death,  32-35. 
Filial  affection,  strong,  57;  unquenchable, 

58. 
Flusser,    Lieutenant-Commander,    brave, 

patriotic;  his  death,  66. 
Fisher,  David,  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  killed,  67. 


424 


INDEX. 


Frantz,  Dr.  J.  H.  A.,  Surgeon  U.  S.  A., 
in  charge,  82. 

Frederick,  Geo.,  15th  N.  J.  Vol.,  prayer- 
ful; faithful,  128,  130. 

Finny,  James  H.,  1st  N.  Y.  Engineers, 
"can't  live  without  religion,"  139,  140. 

Fixed  heart,  the,  140. 

Farewell  to  Dixie,  165 

Ferguson,  Henry,  39th  111.  Vol.,  his  con- 
viction, conversion,  180-1. 

Father's  dying  message  to  his  family,  199. 

Fort  Fisher  wounded,  buoyant,  patriotic, 
brave,  276,  287. 

bombarded,  288-290. 

Friendship  of  Jesus,  331. 

Farewell  to  the  hospital,  411-418. 

and  appeal  to  the  impenitent  sol- 
diers, 416,  417. 

Farragut,  Admiral,  353-363. 

nRIFFITH'S,  G.   S.,  kindness;   liberal 

vf  gift,  17. 

Gangrene  camp,  suffering  in,  87,  88;  and 
triumphs  of,  89. 

"  Got  used  to  death,"  98. 

Guthrie,  Rev.  Dr.,  quoted,  133,  134. 

God's  dead-line,  154. 

Grant,  General,  assumed  command-in- 
chief,  306. 

his  unyielding  determination,  307- 

311. 

starts  for  Richmond,  127. 

crossed  the  Rapidan,  125. 

Greenough,. Sergeant,  dying;  dead,  330-1. 

Good  music  ;  melodeon,  20. 

"  Good-bye,  old  arm,"  a  patriotic,  weep- 
ing farewell,  57. 

"  Get  away,  thou  infernal  spirit,"  191. 

"  God's  time  —  now,"  193. 

Great  sinners  saved,  250. 

Gilbert,  Geo.  H.,  34th  Mass.,  careless,  pro- 
fane, bad  excuses,  200. 

"  Going  down  to  get  up,"  210. 

Great  emergencies  develop  moral  powers, 

Goff,  John,  142d  N.  T.  Vol.,  interested; 

prayed;  repented;  died,  226— 7. 
Good  effects  of  a  sermon,  256. 
Gurley,  Rev.  Dr.  P.  D.,  334-342. 

HOLT,  Mrs.  D.  W.,  hospital  matron,  120. 
Howard,  General,  bravery  of  his  sol- 
diers, 134,  135. 

Heroic,  unparalleled  patriotism,  159,  160. 

Hartel,  Philip,  51st  Pa.  Vol.,  saved  by  his 
wife,  183. 

Hugged  the  nurse  when  dying,  187. 

Hinkle,  Charles  A.,  130th  Ohio  Vol.,  pray- 
erless  :  "  I  will  try,"  206-7. 

Homesick  for  heaven,  246. 

Heaven,  description  of  the  joys  of,  248-9. 

Hospital  church  organized,  259. 


Hospital  wards,  neatness  of,  270. 

Hays,  General,  killed,  306. 

Hammond,  Lieutenant,  requests   prayer: 

death.  330-1. 

Hero,  a,  saved  by  his  wife.  183. 
Howard,  0.  0.,  General,  343-346. 
Hospital,  General,  U.  S.,  Annapolis,  77; 

preaching  in,  77,  80. 

General,  U.    S.,  Fortress  Monroe, 


Va.,  organization,  79. 

Chesapeake,  79,  81. 


-  ary  ;  papers,  80,    8. 

-  General,  U.  S.,  Hampton,  81,  102. 
Henries,  H.  C.,  Chaplain,  U.  S.  A.,  77. 
Hospital  garden,  abundant  crops,  84. 
Hospital  hennery,  useful,  85. 
Hampton  Hospital,  81,  102,  178. 

TOHXSON,    Edmund,    37th   U.   S.,  col- 

v    ored  ;  prayerful,  252. 

James,  Milas,  36th  U.  S.,  colored  ;  back- 

slider ;  penitent  ;  patriotic  ;  happy,  227-8. 
Jones,  Peter,  36th  U.    S.,   happy;     per- 

severing ;  shouting,  204. 
Joy,  a  source  of  moral  strength,  135. 
Johnson,  Wm.  J.,  142d  N.  Y.  Vol.,  gen- 

teel, patient,  brave,  patriotic,  235. 
Jacob,  old,    the    grave-digger,   preposses- 

sing, devout,  faithful,  237-8. 
Jones,  John,  10th  W.  Va.,  patient,  meek, 

humble,  pious,  happy,  241-2. 

KELLOGG,  Major,  the  awful   sight   he 
saw,  174. 

Kissing  the  stake  as  he  approached  it,  218. 

Kneeland,  Dwight,  Signal  Corps  U.  S.  A., 

rather  careless;  prays;  repents;  happy, 


T  OVETT,  Lewis,  2d  U.  S.  colored  troops, 

-"  his  heroic  faith,  assurance,  patriotism  ; 
how  to  be  happy,  46-48. 

Longnecker,  Lieutenant,  66,  67,  69. 

Leghman,  Colonel,  103d  Pa.  Vol.,  19,  68, 
69.. 

Left  for  dead,  yet  lived,  55. 

Libby  prison,  going  to,  71,  72 ;  reception, 
life  in,  72:  fare,  73,  151,  152. 

hospital,  patients,  74 ;  farewell  to, 

75. 

Lambert's,  John,  victorious  death,  88. 

Letter-writing  for  patients,  107. 

Letters  of  death.  1U9. 

Last  messages,  110. 

Letters  from  the  bereaved  at  home  to  the 
chaplain,  110.  —  1,  The  bereaved  wife, 
110;  2,  The  bereaved  brother,  112; 
3,  The  weeping  widow,  112;  4,  The 
dying  soldier,  114;  5,  A  weeping  South- 
ern family,  114,  115. 

Letter  from  a  bereaved  wife,  132. 

Letters  of  a  sister  convert  a  brother,  188. 


INDEX. 


425 


Lucas,  Henry,  39th  111.  Vol.,  "putting  it 
off  .-"delaying,  193. 

Latkrop,  Henry  A.,  8th  Conn.,  "All  is 
well ;  "  victorious,  206. 

Little  Lizzie's  letter,  214;  reply,  215. 

Largest  interment  any  day,  286. 

Lestur,  John,  138th  U.S.  colored;  brave, 
faithful,  218. 

Loaded  and  fired  eight  times  during  a 
charge,  218. 

Lord's  Supper  administered,  272. 

Leo's  surrender,  284-5,  304-5,  311. 

Lyon,  General,  killed,  301-2. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  his  emancipation  proc- 
lamation, 16;  his  character,  296-7;  re- 
ligious life,  faith,  298  ;  reinauguration, 
283;  his  death,  157;  funeral,  285,295, 
299,  310. 

MURDOCH,  Josiah,  4th  TT.  S.  colored, 
217:  prayerful,  198. 

Morton,  Charles  A.,  7th  N.  H.,  215;  anx- 
ious; prayed;  converted,  216. 

Mullincup,  Jacob,  13th  Ind.  Vol.,  anxious, 
skeptical,  tries  to  pray,  222-3. 

MeMaster,  John,  died,  259. 

Mortality  increasing :  twenty-six  buried 
in  one  day,  264-5,  286. 

Moore,  Colonel,  203d  Pa.  Vol.,  killed; 
brave,  291. 

Mansfield,  Brigadier-General,  U.  S.  A.,  his 
death,  302. 

Moody,  D.  L.,  395-403. 

Massacre  at  Fort  Pillow,  306. 

McPherson,  General  James  B.,  killed,  308. 

Mortality  of  the  war,  average  daily  and 
total,  412. 

Maximum  mortality  of  hospital  at  Fort- 
ress Monroe,  412. 

Moral  strength  saved  the  nation,  418. 

Munificent  contributions  for  the  army  and 
navy,  419. 

Marshall,  Rev.  Jas.,  U.  S.  A.,  17,  30,  42, 
80,  86,  87,  272,  279,  283,  284,286,295. 

sketches  by,  326-331. 

turned  a  theatre  into  a  religious 

meeting,  327-9. 

did  great  good  in  a  short  time,  329. 

stopped  the  soldiers  swearing,  329. 

prays  with  dying  officers,  329-30. 

Morris,  R.-'v.  Mr..  It'. 

Merrill,  Lieutenant  F.  L.,  3d  N.  H.,  con- 
verted in  hospital;  baptism;  his  will; 
dying  words,  40-42. 

Mays,  Captain,  101st  Pa.  Vol.,  64. 

Massacre  at  Plymouth,  69,  70. 

Mortimer,  P.  l').,  lo:M  Pa.  Vol.,  mortally 
wounded ;  resigned,  74. 

Moore,  John  B.,  1st  Texas,  hopes;  suf- 
ferings :  death,  54,  55. 

Mother,  affection  for,  57,  58. 

Massachusetts  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  67,  68. 


McClellan,  Dr.  Eli,  U.  S.  A.,  Surgeon  in 

charge,  81,  82,  84,  283-4,  294,  30<* 
Military  prison,  86. 
Moore,  George,  188th  Pa,,  a  good  boy,  97; 

refreshed,  102,  103,  261. 
Meeting  God  in  the  bushes,  103. 
Most  powerful  sermon,  103. 
Matrons  in  hospitals,  117. 
Meccham,  Mrs.,  veteran  matron,  121. 
Miller,  Hutchinson,  29th  Conn.,  hia  strong 

faith;    creed;   exhorts    sinners,  though 

blind,  130,  131. 
McElvain,  Henry,  118th  U.  S.  Vol.,  pray- 

ers ;  conversion,  180. 
Montgomery,  Ananias,  10th  W.  Va.,  ball 

in  his  head,  God  in  his  heart  ;  resigned  ; 

death,  135-6. 
Midnight  calls,  148. 
"  Murder  will  out,"  157. 
Martyrdom,  spirit  of,  158. 
Moonlight  prayer-meeting   in  Anderson- 

ville,  163. 

Mulford,  Colonel,  commissioner,  165. 
McClellan,  General,  173,  317. 
Martin,  Mr.,  delegate,  Christian  Commis- 

sion, 190. 
McGavern,  Lawrence,  2d  Pa.  Heavy  Art., 

wicked;  repents;  prays;  dies,  191-2.     . 

O  fear  ;  why  ?  "  Because  I  put  Jesus  in 
front,"  47,  117,  186. 
"  None  but  Christ,"  88,  141. 
Night-calls,  88. 
Nichols,  Joseph  P.,  39th  111.  Vol.,  prayer- 

less  ;  confesses  ;  prays  ;  dies,  178,  179. 
No  venture  in  coining  to  Jesus,  191. 
Nichols,,  John,  29th  Conn.  Vol.,  (an   In- 

dian), humane,  backsliding,  238-9. 
Number  of  patients  visited  daily,  6,  269. 
National  Cemetery,  Fortress  Monroe,  Va., 

prayers  and  tears  in,  315,  316. 

-  who  are  the  dead  ?  317. 

-  how  did  they  die?  317;   as  they 
fought,  318. 

-  their  dying  words,  318,  319. 
the  monument  inscription,  320. 


N 


a  plea  to  guard  and  protect  it,  321. 

its  erection,  322. 

burying  the  dead,  323-4. 


National  Cemeteries  of  U.  S.,  different  de- 
partments, 324-5. 
general  summary  of,  325-6. 


OWNERSHIP  in  God.     It  is  mutual  — 
"The  Lord  is  mine,  and  I  am  his,"  206. 

PATRIOTISM,  25,  26,  28,  30,  40,  123, 
133,  218,  275,  309 ;  "  I  came  out  to  con- 
quer or  die,"  55,  57. 

in  Andersonvillc,  158,  159 ;  undy- 
ing, 160. 


426 


INDEX. 


Patriotism,    "  we   conquer 

here,"  304-7. 

"  Put  the  bright  side  out  to  mother,"  57. 
Philadelphia  Inquirer  quoted,  69. 
"  Past  feeling,"  124. 
Procrastination,  evil  of,  193. 
Prisoners  in  Andersonville,  sufferings  of, 

152-5,  161,  170-4 ;  execution  of,  156. 
Preaching  to  colored  troops,  17. 

to  patients,  16. 

Preached  a  Christmas  sermon,  19. 

in  rebel  hospital,  70. 

on  steamer,  76. 

Preaching  by  Col.  A.  "W.  Taylor,  19. 
by  colored  people,  19. 


in  the  military  prisons,  43,  73,  87. 

Plymouth,  strength  of  garrison,  19;  at- 
tacked by  rebels  under  General  Hoke, 
63. 

consternation  of  citizens,  63 ;  siege 

of,  64-70 ;  surrender  of,  68. 

Papers  and  tracts  distributed,  87. 

Pride  hinders  in  coming  to  Jesus,  116. 

Pivot  of  eternity,  the,  155. 

Prisoners,  Belle  Isle,  condition  of,  75,  76. 

exchange  of,  75. 

frozen  to  death,  half-starved,  78. 

• severe  suffering  of,  170-4. 

Plan  of  salvation  in  a  nutshell,  225. 

Payson's  flood  of  glory  rolling  around 
him,  248. 

Preaching  in  the  wards,  256. 

Plumb,  Sergeant,  4th  Mass.  Cav.,  283. 

Porter,  Admiral,  bravery,  288,  317. 

Pennypacker,  Col.,  291. 

Preston,  Lieutenant,  and  Porter,both  killed 
in  battle,  292. 

President  Johnson,  294. 

Prayer-meetings,  semi-weekly,  large,  in- 
teresting, 16,  80,  92,  273-6. 

on  voluntary  principle,  94, 262, 265. 

powerful,  95-98. 

ward,  96. 

in  the  bushes,  102. 

melting,  258,  261. 

soldiers',  100,  101. 

refreshing,  102,  257-9,  266. 

by  moonlight,  163. 

in  the  dark,  281. 

bomb-proof,  210. 

Power  of  religion  on  the  mind,  heart,  56. 

prayer  illustrated,  99, 100, 102, 130. 

preaching,  105. 

God's  presence,  130. 

Christ's  love,  232. 

Privilege  of  prayer,  189. 

PRAYERS,  SOLDIERS'  : 

"  0  Jesus,  save  me  just  now,"  45. 

"  Oh,  that  I  had  ventured  before,"  190. 

"  0  Jesus,  ceme  just  now,"  44. 

"  Come  and  pray  for  us,"  63. 

"  Lord,  save,  or  I  perish,"  179. 


die   right  j  PRAYERS,  SOLDIERS': 

"  Oh,  chaplain,  don't  go  away,"  116. 
"  Lord  have  mercy."  "  May  God  protect 

us,"  152. 
"Oh,  for   God's   sake,  have  mercy   on 

me,"  174. 

"  Save  me,  save  me,  0  Jesus,"  186. 
"  I  will  pray  till  I  die,"  187. 
"  Lord,  have  mercy  on  me ;  cast  me  not 

off,"  221. 
Prayer-hall,  94. 

Patchwork  won't  do  for  eternity,  125. 
Philips,  John  W.,  of  Ohio,  converted  in 
hospital ;  baptized  sitting  on  his  death- 
' ;  death,  126-7 


Pompey's  heroic  courage,  134. 

Palmer,  John,  62d  Ohio  Vol.,  "too  wicked 

to  pray  ;  "  "  plunge  for  Jesus,"  142-4. 
Praying  for  sport ;  no  fear  of  God,  195 ; 

with  a  ball  in  his  head,  195. 
Praying  Tom  falls  flat  down,  and  prays 

right  up,  281. 

•p  AAVLINGS,  Chaplain,  103d  Pa.  Vol., 

•"  20  ;  captured,  68. 

Rush,  Dr.,  Surgeon  U.  S.  V.,  skilful,  81, 
285. 

Ransom,  C.  M.,  Lieutenant,  98th  N.  Y. 
Vol.,  wounded;  prays;  shouts;  dies, 
31,  32. 

Russell,  Lieutenant,  wounded,  63. 

Rebels  prayed  with,  70  ;  preached  to,  49. 

Reading-room  for  soldiers,  81. 

Roe,  E.  P.,  Chaplain  U.  S.  A.,  82,  84,  94, 
96,  101,  121,  259,  265,  275,  282-5,  295, 
272,  285. 

Raymond,  Chaplain  Charles,  U.  S.  A.,  82, 
279,  282-4,  295. 

Rutherford's  dying  words,  88. 

Religious  work  at  Hampton  Hospital,  93. 

Revival,  98,  101,  102,  257-8,  273-6. 

Religious  experience,  soldiers'  101. 

conversation,  important,  116, 184-5. 

Revenge  knocked  out  by  a  wound,  117. 

Roe,  Mrs.  Chaplain  E.  P.,  120. 

Roman  sentinel,  the,  133;  pattern  of  fidel- 
ity, 134. 

"  Resting  on  Christ  sure,"  150. 

"  Resist  the  devil,  and  he'll  flee,"  180. 

Rich  soldier;  no  want,  197. 

Robins,  Peter,  203d  Pa.,  patient,  heroic, 
pious,  happy,  201. 

Reed,  James,  188th  Pa.,  interested,  re- 
pented, prayed,  converted,  died,  223—4. 

Ruffner,  Samuel,  116th  Ohio  Vol.,  warm- 
hearted, happy,  245-6. 

Reno,  John  L.,  76th  Pa.  Vol.,  buoyant, 
brave,  263-4. 

Raising  the  colors  higher,  277. 

Richmond  fallen;  unbounded  rejoicing,283. 

Rebel  barbarity;  used  Union  soldiers' 
skulls  for  goblets,  301. 


INDEX. 


427 


Rosecrans,  General,  patriotic  determina- 
tion, 304. 

SATAN  whetting  his  sword,  15. 
Snowballs  and    flowers    gathered    at 
once,  16. 

Schneider,  Edward  M.,  57th  Mass.,  his  he- 
roic patriotism  ;  immortal  dying  words; 
patience;  will;  death;  grave,  25,  271. 

"  Stand  by  the  flag/'  25. 

"  Stand  up  for  Jesus,"  27. 

Sabbath-school,  colored,  flourishing,  20. 

Soldiers  hungry  for  the  gospel,  19. 

Slough  of  despond  passed,  47. 

Sinner's  unwillingness  keeps  him  from 
Christ,  59,  60. 

Sinner's  own  fault,  if  lost,  60 ;  urged  to 
come,  60. 

Sailors  drowned  at  Plymouth,  fired  on,  66. 

Soldiers'  dying  messages,  88 ;  affectionate 
kiss  of,  91. 

Smith,  Dr.,  Surgeon  U.  S.  V.,  91. 

Stuck  fast  on  the  Potomac,  93,  101. 

Soldiers'  exhortations,  eloquent,  po^er- 
ful,  95. 

Sanitary  Commission  delegates,  97,  119. 

Soldier's  throat  shot  off,  127. 

Stanton,  Harry,  118th  N.  Y.  Vol.,  a 
backslider;  miserable;  confesses  sor- 
row ;  weeps,  137,  138. 

Shot  dead  for  getting  a  drink  of  water,  154. 

Sin,  unpardonable,  154. 

Spirit  quenched,  155. 

Soldier's  praying  for  mother,  108 ;  "  Ste- 
phen," 239. 

dying  words,  messages,  117. 

frankness ;  free  to  give  their  expe- 
rience, 116. 

fluent  in  religious  conversation, 117. 

colored,  their  implicit  faith,  117. 

dying  clinched  in  battle,  133. 

Smith,  Joseph,  38th  U.  S.,  prayerful,  181-2. 

Sherman,  General,  175,  307-8,  310. 

Spanogle,  Mahlon,  205th  Pa.  Vol.,  prayer- 
less;  repents;  dies  happy,  187. 

Smith,  Charles  E.,  148th  N.  Y.,  converted 
in  army  by  a  sister's  letters,  188. 

Shawley,  Michael,  206th  Pa.  Vol.,  tender, 
prayerful,  weeping,  resigned ;  happy 
death,  189,  190. 

Self  the  greatest  hindrance,  197. 

"  Satan  is  often  at  my  heels,"  193. 

"  Swimming  to  glory  on  the  plank  of  free 
grace,"  202. 

Smith,  Joshua,  llth  W.  Va.,  prayerful; 
victorious,  202-3. 

Spaulding,  Judson,  15th  N.  Y.  Art.,  his 
faith,  203-4. 

Satan  repulsed  by  prayor,  221. 

"  Sticking  to  the  point,"  227. 

Steward,  Lorenzo  D.,  llth  Maine  Vol., 
anxious,  hopeful,  231-2. 


Smith,  Wm.  F.,  7th  Conn.,  tender;  prayed  ; 

died  happy,  233. 
Simplicity  of  prayer ;  it  is  the  heart  that 

prays,  244. 

Soldiers  talking  Jesus  to  soldiers,  261. 
Small,  John  R.,  37th  N.  Y.,  prayed  with 

chaplain,  261. 
Soldiers'  prayer  and  conference  meeting, 

266-7. 

Sent  for  to  pray  with  a  rebel  soldier,  267. 
Smith,  Thomas,  32d  Co.  Veteran  Reserve 

Corps,  278;  his  funeral,  278. 
Sanitary  Commission,  282. 
Soldiers'  entertainment,  283. 
Shells  thrown  at  the  rate  of  two  hundred 

and  forty  per  minute,  289. 
Stream  of  death ;  first  death  in  the  war,300. 
Struggle  of  the  Mass.  6th  Regiment  in  Bal- 
timore, 300. 

Sheridan,  P.,  General,  bravery,  304, 309-10. 
Shaw,  Colonel,  54th  Mass.,  killed,  306. 
Sedgwick,  General,  killed,  307. 
Slavery  abolished  in  United  States,  Janu- 
ary 31,  1865,  310. 
Schofield,  General,  310. 
Stockton,  Rev.  Dr.,  332. 
Soldiers  burnt  to  death  in  battle,  312. 

hung  for  loyalty,  312. 

Solemn  review  of  the  war,  and  hospital, 

411-12. 

Simpson,  Bishop,  346-352. 
Stuart,  Geo.  H.,  364-382. 
SOLDIERS'  SAYINGS  AND  DYING  MESSAGES  : 

The  insatiable  heart  cries,  "  Give,  give  !  " 
23. 

"  I  am  in  perfect  peace ;  I  want  noth- 
ing," 24. 

"  I  saw  Jesus  waiting  to  receive  me,"  52. 

"  Jesus  is  precious  to  me  now,"  49,  50, 
117, 258. 

"Christ  is  very  dear  and  precious,"  53. 

"Jesus  saved  me  twice,"  128. 

"  Jesus  is  all  my  trust,"  130. 

"Jesus  is  close  to  my  side,  and  I  am 
happy,"  218. 

"  Jesus  is  all  I  want,"  23,  24,  61. 

"  Hurrah  for  Jesus,"  46. 

"  All  is  bright,"  52,  146-7. 

"All  is  well;  glory  to  God,"  29,  50. 

"  I  have  got  the  victory,"  88. 

"  He  must  pray,"  216. 

"It's  too  late,"  106. 

"  I  could  not  wait,"  216. 

Incorrigible  sinner,  the,  125,  126. 

"  I  will  give  you  bullets  for  bread,"  173. 

"  I  went  to  church  cursing,  and  came 
away  praying,"  180. 

"I  can't  get  religion,"  181. 

"  I  can't  pray,"  206. 

"I  have  not  found  the  Saviour  yet," 
weeping,  182. 


428 


INDEX. 


SOLDIERS'  SAYINGS  AND  DYING  MESSAGES  : 
"  I  can't  help  but  pray ;   I  go  forward," 

182. 

"  If  I  go  to  hell,  I  will  go  praying,"  189. 
"  I  am  ready  to  die,"  186. 
"  I  want  nothing,"  266. 
"I  have  a  firmer  hold  on  God  than  on 

the  devil,"  191. 
"  I  'm  guilty  of  everything  but  theft  and 

murder,"  191. 
"I   am    resting   on    Christ   sure,"   and 

bleeding  to  death,  194. 
"  I  gave  my  heart  to  Jesus,"  196. 
"  I  prays,  and  Satan  goes  away,"  198. 
"I  found  Jesus,"  207. 
"  I  am   happy   in   the   Lord ;    I  would 

rattier  die,"  199. 
"  I  pray  much  in  battle,  on  the  march, 

and  everywhere,"  202. 
"  I  would  load  and  fire,  and  pray  at  the 

same  time,"  202. 
"I  can  afford  to  suffer,"  203. 
"  I  rose  at  three,  and  shouted  glory  to 

God,"  Ac.,  204. 

"  I  can't  live  without  prayer,"  205. 
"  I  have  no  fear,"  217. 
"  I  feel  the  Lord  is  mine,"  206. 
"  I  leave  it  all  with  the  Lord,"  208. 
"  I  prayed  in  the  street,"  216. 
"I  love  everybody,"  217. 
"  I   trust   in   the   Lord,  and  I   am  not 

afraid,"  218. 

"I  fear  pain  more  than  death,"  218. 
"  Tell  them  I  am  happy ;  "  dying  words, 

187. 
"  I  have  got  it !  I  have  got  it !  glory  to 

God,"  221. 
"  All  is  well,"  236. 
"  Hell  seems  to  be  gaping  for  me  ;  0  my 

sins,  my  sin.*,"  222. 
"I  have  nothing    to  catch  hold  of  — 

nothing  to  stand  on,"  225. 
'  "Oh,  do  lift  me  out,"  225. 
"  My  work  is  done,"  229. 
"  Thank  God,  thank  God  for  my  wound," 

227. 
"  My  wound  has  brought  me  nearer  to 

God,"  227. 
"  I  liked  to  jump  out  of  bed  when  you 

preached,"  227. 
"Oh,  the  love  of  Christ,"  232. 
"  It  is  easier  to  serve  Satan,"  232. 
"  I  am  better  in  the  army  than  at  home," 

233. 

"The  Bible  better  than  greenbacks,"238. 
"  Somehow  it  worked  upon  me,"  240. 
"All  is  well,"  242. 
"  I  will  trust  him  till  I  die,"  241. 
"I  have  no  fear  of  death,"  241. 
"  God  still  sticks  to  me,"  241. 
"  0  chaplain,  what  will  I  do  ?  "  242. 
"  1  am  on  the  devil's  side,"  244. 


SOLDIERS'  SAYINGS  AND  DYING  MESSAGES: 
"  I   try   to  pray,  but  can't  make  much 

out,"  244. 
"Pray  for  me  till  I  die;  I  feel  happy 

in  the  Lord,"  246. 

"  I  'm  too  wicked  to  come  to  Jesus,"  250. 
"I  will  try,"  251. 
"  God  grabbed  me  into  his  heart  at  once," 

252. 
"  I   prayed  on,   and  God   changed  my 

heart,"  253. 
"  I  am  the  happiest  man  on  earth.     I 

mean  it,"  255. 

"  The  devil  coaxed  me  off,"  254. 
"How  thankful  I  am  for  that  sermon," 

256. 

"  God  has  got  me,"  228. 
"  0  chaplain,  will  you  pray  for  me,"  257. 
"  Tell  my  wife  I  died  happy  in  Christ," 

263. 
"  I  have  found  Jesus  :  oh,  he  is  so  lovely," 

265. 
"My  heart   is   .ill  broken  into  pieces; 

*0  brethren,  pray  for  me,"  267. 
"They  could   only  shout  'glory,'   and 

died,"  270. 
"  I  would  give  my  arm  and  a  hundred 

dollars,  to  quit  swearing,"  274. 
"  I  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line," 

307. 
"  God.  got  me  to  come  into  the  army,"319. 

RESOUTIIICK,  Captain,  fond  of  Bible 
his  death,  30-1. 
Taylor,  Colonel  A.  W.,  of  101st  Pa.  Vol., 


and  prayers  ;  patriotic  ;  his  death,  30-1. 

A.  W.,  of 
18,  19,  67,  70. 


Thanking  God  for  wounds,  41. 

"  The  Dying  Captain,"  by  Chaplain  Mar- 

shall, 42-46. 

Transferring  patients  north,  83,  89,  90,  92. 
"  The  last  warning,"  105,  106. 
Too  wicked  to  pray,  142. 
Too  late,  155. 
Tisdale,  Rev.  Mr.,  155. 
Track,  Geo.  II.,  6th  Conn.,  resolved  to  quit 

swearing,  185. 
The   martyr's   soul   in   flames   offered    to 

Christ,  199. 
Tustison,  James,  10th  Iowa  Vol.,  patriotic, 

patient,  happy;  his  death,  219-20. 
Testament,  bloody,  given  up  for  mother,  49. 
Testaments  distributed,  86. 
Testament  read  through  thirty  times  dur- 

ing the  war,  217. 
Testaments,   five    hundred,   received   one 

day,  261,  293. 

The  great  Christian  victory,  418,  420. 
The  rebellion  dissected,  418. 
Tilton,  Benjamin  R.,  prayerless,  profane; 

pleads  for  mercy,  224—5. 
The  rope  of  salvation,  225  ;  grasped  ;  sin- 

ners saved,  226. 


INDEX. 


429 


The  snares  of  the  devil  and  the  cross  of 
Christ  contrasted,  233. 

The  world's  great  want,  251. 

Talked  a  swearing  man  to  tears  of  peni- 
tence, 258,  261. 

Thurston,  Henry  A.,  152d  N.  Y. ;  "I  am 
going  home,"  263. 

The  naked  heart,  263. 

Tremendous  cheering,  rejoicing,  284-5. 

Terry,  General  A.  II.,  290-2,  310. 

Triune  campaign,  success  of,  310. 

Total  loss  during  the  war,  312. 

Theatre  turned  into  a  religious  meeting, 
327-9. 

iriSITING  the  sick  in  the  rain,  273. 
•     Vanderkeiff,   Dr.,   Assistant-Surgeon, 

U.  S.,  77. 

Voyage  to  New  York,  author's,  91. 
Victories  on  the  field  and  in  the  hospital,  98. 
Value  of  a  good  letter,  107 ;  the  last  letter, 

108. 
Vanloan,    Geo.    H.,   3d    N.   Y.    Cavalry, 

pious,  138. 
Vanwert,  Edwin,  3d  Mich.  Vol.,  anxious  ; 

wicked  ;  prays  ;  dies,  144,  145. 
Victory  claimed  by  both  armies,  306. 

WESSELS,  General  H.  W.,  19,  49,  64, 
68,  72. 

Winslow,  Elnor,  203d  Pa.  Vols.,  wounded  ; 
earnest  prayers ;  longs  to  depart ;  happy 
death,  28-30. 
What  Christ  is  to  the  Christian,  37. 


Welsh.  Rev.John,  his  wonderful  praycr,52. 
i.  Vol.,  long- 
ing for  Jesus  ;  feels  his  inability  ;  "  Oh, 


Williams,  Samuel,  104th   Pa. 


if  I  only  could!  "  59,  60. 
Words  immortal,  25. 
"  Whole-hearted  faith;"  its  effects,  48. 
"  World  hollow,"  empty,  54. 
Wounded,  Plymouth,  visited,  70;  preached 

to,  49  ;  farewell  to,  70. 
Weeping  mother's  trials,  92. 


Work  hard,  but  pleasant,  97. 

"We  always  came  back  refreshed,"  102. 

Writing  letters  for  the  patients,  107. 

Women  of  the  hospital,  118. 

Women's  kindness  and  power  to  comfort^ 

118. 

Worrell,  Mrs.  Jane  M.,  matron,  120. 
Wolcott,  Miss  E.,  matron,  120. 
Wirz,  Captain,  156, 157, 166, 170,172, 174-7. 
"  What  a  feast !  "  165. 
Warner,  J.  S.,  2d.  N.  Y.  Cav.,  a  weeping 

mother,  209. 

Winder,  General  G.  H.,  his  threats  174. 
Weekly,  John,  4th  U.  S.,  prayerful;  ready ; 

no  fear ;  assurance,  186. 
Williams,    Dwight,   203d   Pa.,  prayerful; 

resigned,  196. 

Wilson,  Charles,  16th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artil- 
lery, Christ  his  ;  no  want,  196-7. 
Ward,  James,  81st  N.  Y.,  "  Tell  my  family 

I  am  happy,"  199. 
Welsh,   Perry,  67th   Ohio  Vol.,    anxious; 

comfortable;  steadfast,  202. 
Wcrtz,  John,  23d  Ohio,  patient,  with  seven 

wounds,  203. 
Weed,  Abraham,  58th  Pa.  Vol.,  anxious  ; 

fearful,  205. 

Warren,  Thomas,   199th   Pa.  Vols.,  anx- 
ious; prayed;  converted;  happy,  221. 
Williams,    Charles,    5th    U.    S.,    anxious; 

prayerful ;  converted,  222. 
"Wounds  lead  to  prayer  and  conversions, 

221-2. 

Weeping  scene  at  the  grave,  262. 
Week  of  prayer,  272. 

Washington's  birthday  celebrated,  279-80. 
Wolverton,  Dr.  A.,  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  279. 
Wadsworth,  General,  killed,  306. 
Weeping,  bereaved  father,  316 ;  converse 

with  the  dead,  316. 
Weitzel,  General,  enters  Richmond,  283. 

VOURS  in  death,  108. 

I   Young,  Colonel  G.  I.,  403-411. 


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